Supreme Court Won’t Revive Tobacco Suit
The U.S. Supreme Court refused to revive a lawsuit against the tobacco industry by Washington state public hospitals that sought to recoup the cost of treating smoking-related illnesses.
The justices, without comment, let stand a lower court decision dismissing the antitrust and racketeering case against Philip Morris Cos., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and other companies.
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals concluded in February that any hospital claims against the industry were “too remote” to go to trial and would require “unfounded speculation concerning damages.”
Courts around the country generally have rejected cases filed against cigarette makers by private parties who weren’t directly harmed by smoking. A number of hospitals, insurers and union health funds have claimed they suffered financially because of the industry’s campaign to encourage smoking.
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
