Australia

This was a proceeding commenced by a tobacco control group against a number of the tobacco manufacturers alleging misleading or deceptive in contravention of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and the various state Fair Trading Acts. The Tobacco Control Coalition Inc (TCCI) alleged that each of the companies knew that nicotine was addictive and that smoking caused disease and, despite that knowledge, promoted the sale of cigarettes, represented that certain brands were less hazardous than others, and lobbied governments against tobacco control measures (amongst other things).

In this case, the Court considered an application by the plaintiff to proceed without a solicitor. The Court granted the application but only for a short period, until the hearing of the defendants' application for security for costs. For that decision, see: Tobacco Control Coalition Inc v. Philip Morris (Australia) Ltd & Ors [2000] FCA 1004 (27 July 2000).