National

Tobacco Companies To Fight Ruling Forcing Them To Make Initial $1-Billion Payout

The Canadian Press, 10 Jul, 2015 12:55 PM

MONTREAL — The country's largest tobacco companies are set to return to court today to fight a ruling that they must pay out more than a billion dollars in settlement money in the coming weeks.

A Quebec judge ruled just more than a month ago that Imperial Tobacco, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges and JTI-Macdonald had to fork over $15.6 billion to smokers who either fell sick or couldn't quit the habit.

The judgment called on the firms to provide initial compensation of more than $1.1 billion within the first 60 days, regardless of whether they planned to appeal.

One anti-smoking group, the Quebec Council on Tobacco and Health, is denouncing the decision by the companies to fight having to make the initial payment.

The case stemmed from two 1998 suits that were consolidated, with the first witnesses heard only in 2012.

It was believed to be the biggest class-action lawsuit ever seen in Canada.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Fixed-Date Election Comes With Concerns, Observers Say

OTTAWA — The first fixed-date election in Canadian history is just around the corner, but some observers are raising concerns about overspending because of a law they say is flawed.

Fixed-Date Election Comes With Concerns, Observers Say

Canadian Review Urged Better Personal-Security Training After Nairobi Attack

The internal review also called for re-examination of the overall plan for responding to critical incidents overseas involving federal personnel, says a summary of the findings.

Canadian Review Urged Better Personal-Security Training After Nairobi Attack

Surrey Man Dies After Being Trapped In Basement Blaze

Mounties say they received a report of a fire in the 15600-block of 82nd Avenue at around 12:30 a.m. Saturday.

Surrey Man Dies After Being Trapped In Basement Blaze

Emergency Declared In Port Hardy As Dozens Of Wildfires Burn Across B.C.

PORT HARDY, B.C. — Dozens of wildfires burning across British Columbia are forcing residents from their homes, with one small Vancouver Island district declaring a state of emergency.

Emergency Declared In Port Hardy As Dozens Of Wildfires Burn Across B.C.

Relentless Heat Wave Forces Burning Ban, Fishing Closures As B.C. Copes With Drought

A relentless heat wave and the soaring risk of more wildfires across British Columbia have forced the government to take extraordinary steps to impose a total ban on open burning, preserve water and suspend fishing in some areas.