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Post by David on Jun 1, 2015 19:31:48 GMT -5
Judge awards $15 billion to Quebec smokers in landmark case
ow.ly/NJQ3n
MONTREAL – In a ruling described as “historic” by one lawyer, a Quebec judge has ordered three major cigarette companies to pay $15 billion to smokers in what is believed to be the biggest class-action lawsuit ever seen in Canada.
“These three companies lied to their customers for 50 years and hurt their right to life,” Andre Lesperance, one of the lawyers involved in the case, said Monday.
“It’s a great victory for victims as well as for society in general.”
The three firms will split the $15.6 billion according to responsiblity set out by the court — 67 per cent will fall to Imperial Tobacco ($10.5 billion), 20 per cent to Rothmans, Benson & Hedges ($3.1 billion) and 13 per cent to JTI-Macdonald ($2 billion).
The judgment calls on the three companies to issue initial compensation of a total of more than $1 billion in the next 60 days, regardless of an appeal. The judge will decide at a later date how to distribute those funds.
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Post by stoker55 on Jun 2, 2015 13:28:47 GMT -5
Great article, thanks. I am crossing my fingers that the tobacco companies don't win the appeal as is so often the case.
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