Lorillard Tobacco Accused of Targeting Black Children

Source from:  News 14 Carolina 08/18/2010

GREENSBORO -- A judge heard arguments Monday in a lawsuit against a Greensboro-based tobacco company. Lorillard Tobacco faces a lawsuit accusing the company of targeting black children in their smoking campaign.

The suit was filed by Will Evans whose mother died after four decades of smoking. Evans says free Newport cigarettes first arrived in his mother's Boston neighborhood when she was just 9 years old. Lawyers for the company say they shouldn't be held liable for any harm to Evans after the late 1960's when cigarettes had warning labels. It is believed to be the first time someone has accused a tobacco company of focusing marketing on black children. Enditem