According to the author, the hidden casualties of the war on tobacco are the U.S. tobacco growers, who rely nearly exclusively on the economic health of the cigarette companies to survive. This note explores the consequences of the tobacco litigation on tobacco farmers, as well as the details of the litigation both before and after the proposed settlement in June, 1997. Finally, the author discusses the impact of the litigation on tobacco farmers, and proposed solutions.
Tobacco farms make up a significant portion of the agricultural economies in many southern states.
It is a profitable practice, and many tobacco farms are generational. The federal government has facilitated the production of tobacco through subsidies and insurance protection. Tobacco manufacturers, on the other hand, are diverse, and are enjoying dramatic growth, principally in overseas markets. Tobacco litigation has slowly evolved from lawsuits by individuals to those instigated by state authorities. The increased awareness of the damage caused by smoking, as well as evidence that tobacco companies played some role in withholding of documents affirming the dangers of cigarette smoking, has prompted an all-out legal war against tobacco.