LAT: U.S.' Years-Long Battle With Tobacco Firms Nears an End

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U.S.' Years-Long Battle With Tobacco Firms Nears an End
Billions of dollars are at stake in a lawsuit as closing remarks start. A ruling may take months.

By Myron Levin, Times Staff Writer


WASHINGTON — More than eight months after it started, the Justice Department's marathon civil case against the tobacco industry enters its final lap today with closing arguments on whether the leading cigarette makers are guilty of fraud and racketeering.

The immense case, which already has cost the two sides hundreds of millions of dollars, has been described as the largest civil suit ever brought under the federal anti-racketeering statute known as RICO.

A federal appeals court in February wiped out what was, for the industry, the most worrisome part of the suit: a government demand that the companies be required to forfeit $280 billion in allegedly ill-gotten profits.

But the stakes remain high. Despite the industry's dismal reputation, it is eager to avoid the stigma of a racketeering verdict — which would be the first such judicial finding against a major industry.

A loss also could force the companies to spend billions of dollars on remedial measures sought by the Justice Department. These include a massive smoking cessation program that would cost the companies as much as $130 billion over 25 years....


http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tobacco7jun07,0,2585839.story?coll=la-home-headlines