PHAI Amicus Brief on Behalf of the AMA and others in Appeal of RICO case: Last year, a federal judge found the tobacco industry liable for violating RICO, the federal anti-racketeering statute, in a case filed against the industry by the United States Government.
An appeal is pending in the U.S Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. PHAI, on behalf of itself, the American Medical Association, the American College of Physicians, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Thoracic Society, Society for Thoracic Surgeons, and Mississippi State Medical Association filed an amicus brief arguing that tobacco companies continue to misinform and deny responsibility for the harm their products cause.
Therefore, two remedies proposed at trial but not adopted by the trial court should be implemented:
1) An education and counter-marketing program; and
2) Youth smoking reduction targets.
By setting up a program to correct misinformation and penalties for the industry if it fails to reduce youth smoking, the opportunities for further violations of the RICO statute by the tobacco industry will be reduced.