B.A.T INDUSTRIES P.I.C.
SECRETARIAL DEPARTMV%fT
25 JUNE 1992 FOR I.K%EDIATE RELEASE
D. WOODWARD 071 233 3237
AVS NUMBER 373913
The following is a statement made by Brown & Williamson following yesterday's
Supreme Court decision:
"Brown & Williamson considers yesterday's Supreme Court decision a
significant victory.
"The Court held that smokers cannot sue cigarette compaLnies claiming that
after 1969 they were not adequately warned of the risks of smoking.
NAlso, smokers cannot sue cigarette companies based on the claim that
intentional misrepresentation in advertising "neutralized" the effect of the
rodetral warnings. This specific ruling goes wall beyond most industry
analy sts 0 predictions that no intentional misrepresentation claims would be
-,re-empted.
8-aile the Court failed to hold that claims based an breach of express
warranties or certain intentional misrepresentation claims are pro-empted,
this will have Aittle practical effect on the litigation.
"The Supreme Court decision also eliminates the adverse rulings in Now Jersey
and Texas state courts on pre-emption.
"We don't expect this ruling to cause a significant increase in the pending
caseload. Plaintiffs realize how difficult it is to litigate those cases.
Despite an enormous investment by plaintiffs, lavyers of time and resources,
in almost 40 years of litigation, no plaintiff has recovered any money in one
of these cases."
For further information, please contact:
Michael Prideaux
B.A.T industries
4: 071-222 7979
.PA NJ
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B.A.T INDUSTRIES P.L.C. - MINNESOTA DEPOSITORY COPY - PRODUCED PURSUANT To VII.D. OF
CONSENT JuDGmENT DATED 5/6W IN STATE OF AfINKSOTA, ET AL. V. PHILP MORRIS, ET AL. CASE No. Cl-94-MS