At 65, Rigwan strongly suspects smoking also caused glaucoma in his left eye. Jury selection is expected to take several weeks for the closely watched trial, which academic experts think could widely influence public opinion and the outcome of thousands of individual lawsuits around the nation. Up until now, no other case has focused so narrowly on the addiction issue. The plaintiffs allege that the tobacco industry spent billions over the years to conceal research that nicotine is addictive and smoking destructive, while simultaneously advertising their products as socially desirable. For the first time, plaintiffs will have a chance to use industry papers obtained by the state of Minnesota that discuss the cover-up of research linking smoking and lung cancer.
Smokers can quit if they put their minds to it.
The risk is outlined on the pack. It's a legal product. What will be challenged is the plaintiffs' conspiracy theory. But the industry isn't completely unified. Heim has asked the court to remove Liggett from the defense table.