'Corrective Statements … Beyond' Fact And Science

Source from:  Tobacco Reporter 02/28/2011

Philip Morris USA and its parent company, the Altria Group, on Wednesday expressed concerns about the proposed "corrective statements" filed by the Department of Justice in its lawsuit, saying that the proposed statements go beyond factual and scientific information. As part of a 12-year-old lawsuit against the tobacco industry, the US government on Wednesday published 14 "corrective statements" that it said tobacco companies should be required to make, according to a story by Pete Yost for Associated Press. One such statement says: "A federal court is requiring tobacco companies to tell the truth about cigarette smoking. Here's the truth: … Smoking kills 1,200 Americans. Every day." "We have no concerns about communicating the health effects of tobacco products," said Murray Garnick, Altria Client Services senior vice president and associate general counsel. "We agree with the overwhelming medical and scientific consensus that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, and other serious diseases in smokers and is addictive." "Philip Morris USA currently communicates this information in a number of ways, including on its website." "Further, Philip Morris USA supported federal regulation of tobacco products by the FDA, which is charged with ensuring scientifically accurate communications about tobacco products to adult consumers." "However, we have serious concerns with the Department of Justice proposal, which goes far beyond the communication of science-based health information," added Garnick. "The Department of Justice proposal would compel the companies to admit wrongdoing under threat of contempt. Such a proposal is unprecedented in our legal system and would violate basic constitutional and statutory standards. "The proposal would also violate the court of appeals' decision in this case, which held that any corrective statements must be purely factual and uncontroversial. The government's proposal is neither. "We will work with the Department of Justice and, if necessary, challenge the proposal at the appropriate time." Enditem