B&W; Fined for Illegally Firing Workers

Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. must pay about $1 million to 1,200 former workers that it illegally fired without warning in 1994, a federal judge ruled. U.S. District Judge John Fullam in Philadelphia said B&W; violated a federal law requiring at least 60 days’ notice before firing the workers. Brown & Williamson, the Louisville, Ky.-based unit of BAT Industries of London, also will have to pay attorney fees to the workers who brought a class-action lawsuit against the company, plaintiffs’ attorneys said. BAT fired the entire sales force when it bought the American Tobacco unit of Greenwich, Conn.-based American Brands in 1994. B&W; said in a statement that it was evaluating its options, including a possible appeal.