The State will seek to recover its costs for as many years back in time as it has records to support its claims. In addition to damages, the State is also seeking to recover civil penalties, to force the tobacco industry to open their research files to the public as they promised to do 40 years ago, and to prohibit the industry from targeting its advertising and promotions towards minors. A primary purpose of the suit is recovery of Medicaid funds spent by the State of Connecticut. These Medicaid funds come from tax revenues. If the case is successful, it could result in lower health care costs for all Connecticut taxpayers.
Tobacco use is highly addictive.
Studies have shown that more than 80 percent of adult smokers began smoking when they were under the age of 18 and that the average age of smoking initiation was 13. By the time adolescents become adults they are hooked. In fact, the tobacco industry has long hidden the truth about the dangerous and addictive qualities of its products from the public. Since the 1950s, the industry has purposely suppressed its knowledge that the nicotine in tobacco is addictive and that the use of tobacco has serious adverse health consequences, including cancers and death. In suppressing its research, the industry has even gone so far as to hide crucial evidence in foreign countries in order to keep it from the American public.