Council Votes to Join Tobacco Lawsuit
The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to join a class-action lawsuit against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco to collect the profits from cigarettes sold as a result of its “Joe Camel” advertising campaign.
The vote follows an earlier council action in December to join other cities, counties and nonprofit health organizations in a lawsuit seeking to ban the tobacco industry from using advertising that targets children.
“Joe Camel” is a cartoon character that is shown in advertisements riding a motorcycle, playing pool, driving a car and engaging in other sporty activities, sometimes while smoking a cigarette.
The class-action suit against R.J. Reynolds was filed on behalf of a plaintiff in San Francisco and the public. It charges the tobacco firm and others with illegal business practices and false advertising, alleging that R.J. Reynolds designs its Joe Camel advertising to entice minors to buy cigarettes in violation of state law.
“The Joe Camel campaign clearly targeted children in Los Angeles and other major cities throughout the United States,” said Councilman Mike Feuer, who proposed joining the suit.
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