Court to Hear Appeal on CBS Tobacco Case

The New York Court of Appeals has agreed to hear an appeal from Brown & Williamson Tobacco Co. in its efforts to gather information from CBS’ “60 Minutes” about whistle-blower Jeffrey Wigand. Lower courts had rejected B&W;’s attempts to take depositions from “60 Minutes” employees and to obtain tape not broadcast from interviews with Wigand. There was no immediate comment from CBS. Louisville, Ky.-based B&W; has sought the material for a lawsuit against Wigand, alleging that the former B&W; executive stole documents and violated a confidentiality agreement. Wigand has charged that, among other things, B&W;’s former chairman, Thomas Sandefur, lied to Congress when he testified that he believed nicotine is not addictive.