Light Cigarette Case Dismissed

Helsinki District Court on Friday dismissed a case against the companies British American Tobacco Nord and Amer in which three plaintiffs had filed claims against the companies for misleading advertising of "light" cigarettes.

Three women suffering from various lung afflictions were each seeking over 100,000 euros in damages from Amer and British American Tobacco. Under Friday's ruling, the plaintiffs have been ordered to pay 125,000 euros each in court costs.

The women accused the companies of misleading advertising. The tobacco companies used to advertise "light" cigarettes as less harmful to health than regular cigarettes. The women smoked light cigarettes for years.

Two of the women have already undergone operations to remove cancers, and they all suffer from a host of tobacco-related diseases. A fourth original plaintiff in the case has already died.

The tobacco firms' attorneys have maintained that accusations are unfounded, and Amer got out of the tobacco business four years ago.

Professor and Attorney Erkki Aurejärvi, who is representing the women, has devoted much of his career to battling big tobacco firms. In the 1990s he nearly succeeded in winning a case against tobacco companies, but however lost the case in the Supreme Court.

Aurejärvi expressed his disappointment with Friday's ruling and told YLE that the case will be re-filed with an appeals court. He added that British American Tobacco or Philip Morris will oppose any demands for compensation, and instead push for a trial. Big tobacco, he noted, can afford trials that can last for years.