News

PHAI’s Cara Wilking on updating children’s online privacy protection

Food Beverage Marketing, News /

It has been nearly 15 years since Congress enacted the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).  In that time, marketing in a digital world has become ubiquitous and, often, indistinguishable from other content.  An essential part of this transformation of marketing involves providing a a surprisingly wide variety of information about the users to advertisers […]

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Supreme Court Rejects Key Tobacco Industry Appeal Leaving “Massive Liability . . . with no End in Sight.”

News, Press Release, Tobacco /

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:  Edward L. Sweda 617-373-8462 Tobacco companies face the prospect of having to pay billions of dollars in liability to Florida smokers after the U.S. Supreme Court today denied Reynolds American’s petition for certiorari in the case of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. Mathilde Martin, No. 11-754. The company had appealed a

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Canadian Class Action Lawsuits Seek Billions of Dollars from Major Tobacco Companies

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Two historic class action lawsuits that were filed in 1998 finally reached trial on March 12, 2012 in Montreal.  The cases, Cecilia Letourneau v. JTI_Macdonald Corp., Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. and Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc. and Conseil quebecois sur le tabac et la santé and Jean-Yves Blais v. JTI-Macdonald Corp., Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd.

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PHAI Releases New Resources to Use Law to Fight Junk Food Marketing to Kids

Food Beverage Marketing, News, Press Release, Publications /

Food and beverage marketing targeting children is a major focus of the food and beverage industry because, as the Institute of Medicine’s report on the subject bluntly declared, “marketing works.” Deceptive and unfair marketing to promote high-calorie low-nutrient foods and beverages affect parent-consumer food purchasing decisions and induce demand among children for products that contribute

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PHAI’s Wilking urges repeal of MA sales tax exemption for soda as first step in Boston Globe Letter to Editor

News /

In a May 18, 2011 Letter to the Editor published in the Boston Globe, PHAI Staff Attorney Cara Wilking argues that elimination of the sales tax exemption for sodas is a reasonable first step to reduce the impact of sugary drinks on obesity.  However, a per-ounce excise tax would have a more significant impact, according

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Philip Morris and RJ Reynolds hit by $40 million verdict in Florida this week

News, Press Release, Tobacco /

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Edward L. Sweda, Jr. or Mark Gottlieb 617-373-8462 or 617-373-2026 A Jacksonville, Florida jury this week assessed $34 million in punitive damages against tobacco giants Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. for their reprehensible misconduct in the case of Andy Allen v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., et al.  This award

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Florida Jury Returns Multi-Million Verdict Against Tobacco Companies

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Edward L. Sweda (617-373-8462) or Mark Gottlieb (617-373-2026) A jury in Gainesville, Florida today assessed punitive damages in the amount of $1.5 million against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (RJR) and another $1.5 million against Philip Morris (PM) in an Engle Progeny case. The same jury on Tuesday night awarded the family

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PHAI’s Gottlieb Supports Smoke-Free Parks in Cambridge Chronicle Guest Commentary

News, Publications, Tobacco /

On February 21, 2011, the local Cambridge newspaper, the Cambridge Chronicle, published a guest opinion piece by PHAI’s executive director supporting efforts to prohibit smoking in public parks in that city.  A similar proposal is pending in Boston and New York City passed one earlier this month. Gottlieb’s commentary can be seen here.  He mentions

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Minnesota Court of Appeals Gives Green Light to “Light” Cigarette Class Action Lawsuit Against Philip Morris

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Class is certified; consumer protection law claims are reinstated since they establish “public benefit;” claims not barred by Minnesota’s 1998 settlement with tobacco companies or by 2009 federal legislation; claims not barred by statute of limitations.

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Boston Jury Delivers $81 Million Punitive Damages Verdict Against Lorillard

Legal Filings, News, Press Release, Tobacco /

A Suffolk Country jury, after finding Lorillard liable on December 14, 2010  for the wrongful death of a woman who was given free Newport cigarettes by the company as a child growing up in a Boston public housing project, today issued a punitive damages verdict of $81 million against the maker of Newports. The jury

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