$15 billion tobacco ruling

$15 billion tobacco ruling

A Quebec judge has ordered three major cigarette companies to pay $15 billion to smokers in what is widely believed to be Canada’s largest class-action civil lawsuit. The ruling calls for the tobacco companies to pay out $1 billion immediately, even if they appeal the judgement. More than a million Quebecers were represented in the case that argued the companies were liable for health damages produced by tobacco since they knew they were putting out a harmful product and hid the negative health effects of cigarettes.
Economist Ian Irvine has done extensive research on the Canadian tobacco industry and can analyze the impact of this ruling on the industry.

Ian Irvine,
Professor in the Department of Economics
514-848-2424 ext. 3909
Ian.irvine@concordia.ca