Numerous reports by industry scientists about research into the addictive properties and commercial importance of nicotine, including some admissions that nicotine is the product they actually sell. Memos from industry scientists about manipulating nicotine levels in cigarettes. To be sure, many of the allegations raised in the documents are not new, and the industry in the weeks ahead plans to call 40 witnesses, including experts on youth smoking, legal ethics and cigarette design, to rebut the allegations. Jurors will see even more documents as lawyers for cigarette makers introduce government reports, scientific papers and other exhibits. Ironically, the amount of printed evidence against the industry may already exceed what even the most dedicated juror could read.
Many exhibits are one-page advertisements, but others run into hundreds of pages.
Most of the internal memos and reports are several pages long. Lawyers on both sides have tried to cut through this paper logjam by highlighting parts of documents on courtroom projection screens as witnesses testify. Yet even Ciresi, a veteran of complex, document-laden litigation, said he has never seen a case with so much paper. And the document pile may grow. On Saturday, a judge ordered the disclosure of an estimated 2,000 highly sensitive industry documents, revoking the protection of lawyer-client privilege.