Meyers & Flowers attorneys Peter Flowers, Craig Brown, and Jon Mincieli are set for trial in their first of several cases filed against defendants Philip Morris USA Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and Liggett Group LLC. The trial is set for February 6, 2023, in Cook County, Illinois.
Meyers & Flowers has been advocating for current or former smokers who, for decades, were deliberately lied to by Big Tobacco about the harm smoking could cause. Meyers & Flowers has been representing Cook County residents who began smoking at least a pack a day in the 50s, 60s or 70s and have been diagnosed with a throat or head and neck cancer.
Basis of the lawsuit
The upcoming trial is the climax of several years’ worth of dedicated representation of our clients who have fallen victim to the misleading and predatory advertising of Big Tobacco. The lawsuit claims throughout the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, Defendants and several other tobacco producers concocted public relations plans to alleviate the public’s growing fear of a link between smoking cigarettes and certain cancers. Despite Big Tobacco’s commitment to quelling the public’s fears – including publishing a 1954 article in 448 national newspapers called “A Frank Statement to Cigarette Smokers” – the threat of a cancer diagnosis following years of cigarette smoking remained. The lawsuit further alleges that up until 2009 and continuing today, Defendants made false or misleading statements to the public about the safety of cigarette smoking by denying that smoking is addictive; claiming smoking is not injurious to health; asserting that no one knows what causes cancer; and alleging low tar-low nicotine, light, and ultra-light cigarettes are safer than other types of cigarettes.
“For decades, Defendants knowingly concealed the dangers of cigarettes in the interest of their own economic gains. Defendants valued money over the wellbeing of their own customers, and we are determined to secure justice for the victims of this greed” said Meyers & Flowers attorney Peter Flowers.
The lawsuit alleges negligence, strict liability, fraudulent concealment, conspiracy to commit fraudulent concealment, fraudulent misrepresentation, and conspiracy to commit fraudulent misrepresentation against the named Defendants. As the case continues to advance towards trial, the attorneys at Meyers & Flowers diligently continue to prepare for trial and advance the additional tobacco cases filed by the firm.
We are on your side
Meyers & Flowers is determined to right the wrongs of Big Tobacco and hold them accountable for the havoc they have wreaked on people’s lives and health. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with head and neck cancer, tongue cancer, oral cavity cancer, or throat cancer – including pharyngeal or laryngeal cancer – due to tobacco use, we may be able to help.
Tobacco lawsuits are complex, so the advice of a knowledgeable and experienced trial attorney is the first step to ensuring fair and complete compensation for your claim. Cook County residents are encouraged to contact Meyers & Flowers so we can evaluate your legal options. Contact us at 630-576-9696 for your free, no obligation case evaluation or find more information here.