Tobacco companies lied, must change marketing

A federal appeals court on Friday largely endorsed a landmark ruling that found cigarette makers deceived the public for decades about the heath hazards of smoking.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington upheld the major elements of a 2006 ruling that found the nation's top tobacco companies guilty of fraud and violating racketeering laws.

The ruling said manufacturers must change the way they market cigarettes. It bans labels such as "low tar," "light," "ultra light" or "mild," because such cigarettes have been found to be no safer than others because of how people smoke them.

It also said the companies must publish "corrective statements" on the adverse health effects and addictiveness of smoking and nicotine.

The changes have not taken affect while the case has been under appeal.

Throughout the 10 years the case has been litigated, tobacco companies have denied committing fraud in the past and said changes in how cigarettes are sold now make it impossible for them to act fraudulently in the future.

Steve - this case, which has been going on for almost a decade now, can finally come to a close. I would venture to say that this will add fuel to the govt's fire with regard to regulating cigarettes.