Winning against big tobacco. Let's take the time to get it right

Three years ago, the state of Minnesota became the second state to sue the tobacco industry for wrongdoing and the first to charge consumer fraud and conspiracy. Together with our co-plaintiff, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Minnesota, we filed a lawsuit against the six major U.S. cigarette manufacturers, two tobacco trade organizations, and British American Tobacco Industries (BAT), the parent company of Brown and Williamson. Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that the industry defrauded consumers and engaged in false advertising, deceptive practices, and anti-trust violations, including conspiracy to stifle development of safer cigarettes and to conceal information on smoking and health. Many later-filing states patterned complaints after Minnesota's, and virtually all have incorporated some or all of the claims first pled in the Minnesota complaint.