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Under An Hour: My Time at the 2015 Altria Group, Inc. Annual Shareholders Meeting

News /

By Edward L. Sweda, Jr. There are 8,760 hours in any given year (excluding leap years). The management of Altria Group, Inc. used just under one of those 8,760 hours to conduct its 2015 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Virginia on the morning of May 20th. The meeting began precisely […]

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PHAI Mentioned in Boston Globe Article About Efforts to Prevent Underage Lottery Vending

Center For Public Health Litigation, News, Predatory Gambling​ /

In recent months, PHAI has worked with concerned parents and a national anti-predatory gambling group to address youth access to instant lottery tickets through unattended vending machines. Fears around easy access to scratch tickets by kids grew when we found that a 14-year-old was able to easily purchase tickets from lottery vending machines in supermarkets

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R.J. Reynolds’ Shareholder’s Report from Winston-Salem: A “Good Year,” a Proposal to Merge and a Death Toll that Must Not Be Acknowledged

News, Tobacco /

By Edward L. Sweda, Jr. Like clockwork, the 2015 Reynolds American (RAI) Annual Shareholders Meeting started precisely at 9:00 A.M. on Thursday May 7, 2015 at the company’s headquarters in Winston-Salem, North Ed Sweda Carolina.  Seventy-five minutes later, the meeting was adjourned. Before I could attend the meeting, I had to proceed through intense security,

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PHAI’s Chris Banthin Quoted in Boston Globe Article on Smoke-free Homes

Ets, News /

The April 30th edition of the Boston Globe featured an article authored by correspondent Peter Keogh entitled: \”The Plight of the Smoking Man.\” The piece explained the difficulties that some smokers have faced in the wake of increasing restrictions on smoking, including in many multiunit residential buildings.  While the article spends some time exploring the

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PHAI Litigation the Focus of Boston Globe Editorial

Center For Public Health Litigation, Legal Filings, News, Predatory Gambling​ /

Today the Boston Globe\’s Editorial Board published an editorial supporting the the Public Health Advocacy Institute\’s efforts to stop automated lottery ticket sales to kids. Earlier this month, PHAI filed a lawsuit against Star Markets and issued to consumer rights demand to Stop & Shop, two major regional grocery chains, on behalf of the father

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PHAI’s Center for Public Health Litigation Launches Ad Campaign Seeking Cigarette Industry Victims

Center For Public Health Litigation, News, Tobacco /

The Center for Public Health Litigation, a project of the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law, has launched an advertising campaign in Massachusetts to help inform victims of cigarette companies of their legal rights.   While Massachusetts is the best state in the nation to hold cigarette makers responsible in court for

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PHAI Begins Legal Action against Star Markets Over Illegal Lottery Ticket Sales To Minors

Legal Filings, News, Predatory Gambling​, Press Release /

The Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI) today sent a demand letter to the Star Markets supermarket chain, charging the company with violating the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act by illegally selling lottery tickets to minors.  The letter calls on Star Markets to remove lottery scratch ticket vending machines from its stores. PHAI sent the letter on behalf

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Florida jury holds Philip Morris USA accountable for its actions in Federal Court

News, Press Release, Tobacco /

On September 16, 2014, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida returned a verdict of $27,010,000.14 against Philip Morris USA on behalf of Judith Berger, who started smoking in 1958 at the age of 14.  Clearly outraged by evidence of Philip Morris’ conduct in targeting children, the jury awarded

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The Reynolds American, Inc. 2014 Annual Shareholders Meeting: Change of CEO, change of demeanor, “Transformation” to the status quo.

News, Tobacco /

By Edward Sweda           As I entered the Reynolds American Corporate Offices (photo) at 401 North Main Street in Winston-Salem, North Carolina just after 8 A.M. on Thursday, May 8, the company\’s \”Welcome Shareholders\” sign was perched directly above the building\’s main entrance.  Having cleared through the metal detector, I proceeded to

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