sample="rhetorical" bates="2073177065" isource="pm" decade="1990" class="ue" date="19960809"
FromPRNEWSWIRE,800-776-9096 To:DOLLY COLBY Date: 9/9/96 Time: 16:41:27
Page 1 of 2 Courtesy of PR Newswire Reuters Financial 08/09/96 04:22
PM Philip Morris dissapointed in Florida =3 S F f4998N09118548reutr
b f BC-Philip-Morrisdi 08-09 0206
Philip Morrisdissapointed in Florida =3 In a statement, Philip
Morris said: "The verdict in Carter v. American Tobacco is certainly
disappointing, but we believe it to be an aberration that runs contrary
to all, but one previous verdict in smoking and health cases and that
verdict was later reversed on appeal. Indeed, it follows many recent
positive developments in tobacco litigation, including the decertification
of the Castano class, the dismissal of several individual smoking
and health cases in Florida, and the decision by the Legal Aid Board
in London not to fund a class action case against the industry in
Great Britain. "Jurors in past smoking and health cases have traditionally
used their common sense in weighing the evidence, and deciding not
to award money damages to plaintiffs who made the decision to smoke.
"We expect American to appeal and we look forward to a thorough appellate
review. It is worth recalling that, in the 1988 Cipollone case, the
jury's verdict against one of the defendants was later reversed by
a higher court. "The Carter verdict sets no legal precedent, especially
since each case must be tried on its own facts and is based on the
unique circumstances of each individual smoker." --New York Newsdesk,
212/859-1618
REUTER Rtr 16:22 08-09-96 Copyright 1996, Reuters News Service Courtesy
of PR Newswire Reuters Financial 08/09/90 04:20 PM Philip Morrisdissapointed
in Florida =2 S F f4984NO9118548reutr b f BC-Philip-Morrisdi
08-09 0029 Philip Morrisdissapointed in Florida =2 Trading in
Philip Morris was halted on the New York Stock Exchange for an imbalance
after shares fell 3-1/2 to 102. The stock traded as low as 94 in after-hours
trading. MORE