Guardian: Tobacco giants face $14bn claim

[Eugene]

The sellout is now official.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1517017,00.html

Tobacco giants face $14bn claim

David Teather in New York
Wednesday June 29, 2005
The Guardian

The US government yesterday said it was seeking $14bn (£7.7bn) in
penalties against tobacco companies in a racketeering case that
accused the industry of conspiring to hide the risks of smoking.

The sum includes $4bn to fund an anti-smoking education campaign in
addition to the $10bn quit smoking programme outlined by government
prosecutors in the trial's closing arguments.

The final amount was detailed formally in a motion filed with the
court late on Monday. It still however remains significantly below
the $130bn, 25-year programme that had been recommended by a
government witness.

~snip~

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