LCA Hails US Court of Appeals Decision to Affirm Lower Court Ruling Tobacco Companies Guilty of Massive Fraud and...( WASHINGTON May 26 -- Lung Cancer All...),Health

WASHINGTON, May 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lung Cancer Alliance (LCA) hailed the US Court of Appeals' decision on Friday upholding the 2006 ruling that found tobacco companies guilty of fraud and lying about the dangers and addictiveness of smoking.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081016/LCALOGO)

The unanimous ruling by the three judge panel upholds a 2006 federal court conviction of fraud and racketeering against nine cigarette manufacturers and two industry trade organizations. The ruling found these companies engaged in a 50-year massive racketeering scheme that included falsely denying the adverse health effects of their products, falsely denying that nicotine is addictive, falsely representing that "light" and "low-tar" cigarettes present fewer health risks, falsely denying that they marketed to kids, and falsely denying that secondhand smoke causes diseases.

The tobacco companies now face further marketing restrictions, cannot use the deceptive words "light" and "low tar" and will be required to purchase TV and newspaper ads that explain the health dangers and addictiveness of their products.

"This is an extremely important victory," said Laurie Fenton Ambrose, LCA President & CEO, "as it draws the brightest line on those who have committed decades of massive fraud and deception upon the American public. For the lung cancer community -- this is not just long overdue -- but life saving."

Fenton Ambrose continued, "But I must add that as important as this ruling is -- I am disappointed that it did not allow for additional remedies called for by LCA and other public health groups to help victims of the fraudulent practices of the tobacco companies."

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