This lawsuit was filed by the family of an individual who died from a smoking-related illness; it arises from a 1994 class-action lawsuit on behalf of Florida smokers against major tobacco companies (Engle v. Liggett Group, Inc.). In this decision, the court allowed the plaintiff’s fraud claim against Philip Morris to continue. The court found that the earlier class action lawsuit in Engle had proven that the major tobacco companies fraudulently concealed information about the health risks of smoking within the time frame necessary for determining the fraud claim. The court found that it was not necessary to also show that the smoker relied on those fraudulent claims during the relevant period for such claims to move forward.
An individual or organization may seek civil damages against a tobacco company based on the claim that the use of tobacco products causes disease or death. Some of these cases will relate to general tobacco products, while others will relate to specific subcategories of tobacco products--for example, light or low products, menthol or other flavored products. Additionally, there may be cases relating to exposure to secondhand smoke.
The court might consider procedural matters without touching the merits of the case. These might include: improper joinder, when third parties, such as Health NGOs or government officials, seek to become parties to the suit; lack of standing, where a plaintiff fails to meet the minimum requirements to bring suit; lack of personal jurisdiction, where the court does not have jurisdiction to rule over the defendant; or lack of subject matter jurisdiction, where the court does not have jurisdiction over the issue at suit.
This lawsuit was filed by the family of an individual who died from a smoking-related illness; it arises from a 1994 class-action lawsuit on behalf of Florida smokers against major tobacco companies (Engle v. Liggett Group, Inc.). In this decision, the court allowed the plaintiff’s fraud claim against Philip Morris to continue. The court found that the earlier class action lawsuit in Engle had proven that the major tobacco companies fraudulently concealed information about the health risks of smoking within the time frame necessary for determining the fraud claim. The court found that it was not necessary to also show that the smoker relied on those fraudulent claims during the relevant period for such claims to move forward.