U.S. District Court in New York Dismisses Tobacco Suit
11/02/99
``We are pleased with the court's decision, which dismissed the Falise case today on the grounds that the court did not have jurisdiction over the claims by the trust against
tobacco manufacturers.
``The plaintiffs represent a trust established in 1988 as a result of the bankruptcy of Johns-Manville Corporation. The court observed that Manville had known for more than half a century about the potential relationship between smoking and asbestos in causing disease and/or illness, and that Manville, its trust, and the plaintiffs' lawyers representing claimants considered, but ultimately decided litigation against the
tobacco companies was not a solution to the problems of inadequate funds in the trust.''
Brown & Williamson
Tobacco Corporation is headquartered in Louisville, Ky. The company's major brands include KOOL, LUCKY STRIKE, CARLTON, CAPRI, GPC, MISTY, and VICEROY.