Huntington Beach : Couple Sue, Link Death of Son to Clove Cigarettes

An Orange County couple whose son died last May after smoking clove cigarettes have filed a $25-million lawsuit claiming that the sellers, makers and importers of the product were, among other things, negligent in supplying “dangerous and defective” cigarettes.

Ronald and Carole Cislaw alleged in the Orange County Superior Court suit that their son, Timothy Michael, 17, bought Djarum Specials, imported clove cigarettes, from a 7-Eleven store and smoked them on March 2, 1984.

The suit said that Timothy began having difficulty breathing and that his health deteriorated until he finally lapsed into a coma on May 3. He died seven days later.

The suit also names as defendants five other retail outlets, cigarette maker Djarum Kudus Manufacturing and importers Phillips and King Cigar Co. and Tasamar Importers.