Tobacco litigation--purpose, performance, and prospects

Product liability litigation can dramatize the dangers of tobacco use, stymie industry propaganda efforts, reveal nefarious industry behavior, and force price increases. Recent recognition of nicotine addiction, "discovery" documenting the industry's stonewalling campaign of more than 35 years, and favorable legal developments make future success likely. Litigation can also be used to pressure employers to provide smoke-free working environments, force retailers to obey laws prohibiting sales to minors, require tobacco companies to abandon "colonialist" Third World marketing practices, publicize the falsity of pseudoscientific industry assertions, and prevent television stations from broadcasting tobacco advertising masquerading as sports events. Even defending against harassing legal actions brought by the industry can embarrass the industry and publicly vindicate pro-health groups that oppose it.