CEO Says Cigarettes ‘Might Have’ Killed

The chairman and chief executive of Philip Morris Cos. on Thursday said that cigarettes “might have” killed 100,000 Americans, the first time an executive with the nation’s largest cigarette maker has acknowledged a possible link between smoking and death.

The remark by Geoffrey Bible comes as Congress prepares to consider a $368.5-billion settlement that would wipe out future lawsuits against the industry.

Bible made the statement toward the end of 90 minutes of questioning by Ron Motley, an attorney for the state of Florida, which is suing the tobacco industry for $12.3 billion for the public cost of smoking-related illnesses.

Florida was the first of 40 states suing the major tobacco companies to bring a case to trial. Attorneys said they plan to prove the industry manufactured a defective product and deceived the public about smoking’s dangers.

“I was impressed with the man’s candor,” said Motley, who today is to question Steven F. Goldstone, chairman and chief executive of RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp.

Peter Bleakley, who represents Philip Morris and is the lead defense attorney in the Florida lawsuit, played down the significance of Bible’s comments, which came as jury selection was ending its third week.

“I thought it was pretty uneventful,” he said.

Motley called the comments a major concession. Aside from one Brooke Group Ltd. Chairman Bennett LeBow, no top tobacco executive has conceded unequivocally that a single death has been caused by cigarette smoking.

LeBow, whose Brooke Group unit Liggett Group is the smallest of the major cigarette makers, has said that cigarettes kill and are addictive.

In contrast, Alexander Spears, Lorillard Inc. chairman and CEO, said in April, “I don’t think any of them [Americans] die of diseases caused by cigarette smoking.”

During the deposition, Motley asked Bible: “Would Philip Morris agree that a single American citizen who smokes their products for 30 or more years, a single one, has ever died of a disease caused in part by smoking cigarettes?”

Bible answered, “I think there’s a fair chance that one would have, might have.”

Motley followed up, “How about a thousand?”

Bible said, “Might have.”

Motley pressed, “How about 100,000?”

Bible: “Might have.”

Bible also said that if he were convinced cigarettes caused lung cancer, he would halt production.

Until now, James Morgan, president of Philip Morris’ tobacco unit, was the company’s highest-ranking executive to be questioned in a cigarette lawsuit. In April, he said: “Cigarette smoking may possibly cause cancer.”