Jump to full article: Bloomberg News, 2001-11-06
Author: William McQuillen
Intro: Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. is defending itself in a Connecticut court against allegations the tobacco company is responsible for the death of a longtime smoker.
The family of Arlene DuJack claims the British American Tobacco Plc unit makes a defective and unreasonably dangerous product and should be forced to pay damages.
The mother of five, who lived in Killingly, Connecticut, died in 1999 of lung cancer after having smoked Kool cigarettes for 26 years.
The Louisville, Kentucky-based company contends the risks of smoking are well-known by the public and that DuJack knew of the risks and chose to smoke.
``Brown & Williamson will contend that Mrs. DuJack was able to quit smoking at any time, but chose not to quit,'' the company said.
In addition, the maker of Pall Mall and Lucky Strike cigarettes said DuJack's lung cancer originated in the pelvis and was not caused by smoking.
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