Problem
Unclear liability
Incidence:
Taking legal action against organisations as powerful as tobacco companies is a big step no-one should take lightly. 52 British lung cancer victims have recently had to abandon their case after a hostile judge and endless legal hurdles were placed in their way. Even though some 6 million people will have died as a result of smoking in the UK since the war, it appears that the legal system is not yet ready to ask if the tobacco companies bear any responsibility for this terrible toll. The situation in the United States is very different where the systematic deception and wrong-doing of tobacco companies has been exposed and the courts have become much more hostile to the tobacco industry. Broader Problems:
Irresponsible business practices Narrower Problems:
Prohibitive cost of product liability protection Web Page(s):
Action on Smoking and HealthProblem Type:
J: Problems Under Consideration Date of last update
11.03.1999 – 00:00 CET