March 31, 1998 - A cigarette designer from the nation's number two tobacco company today denied his company modified cigarettes to hook smokers. Tobacco companies are using David Townsend's testimony to counter claims by the state and Blue Cross Blue Shield that they manipulated nicotine content in cigarettes, and conspired not to develop safer products. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... By the way, the tobacco companies have until tomorrow to persuade the U-S Supreme Court to hear its case regarding secret industry documents. If the high court refuses to hear the case, the companies must turn over the documents to the state. We will have that story tomorrow night on ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. Sun 28-MAY 11:51:36 MPR NewsPro Archive - Wed 04/11/2001
March 26, 1998 - The first defense witness in Minnesota's tobacco trial today underwent vigorous cross-examination from the state. Minnesota historian Hy Berman testified Minnesotans have long been aware of the health risks of smoking, but lead plaintiff attorney pointed out gaps in his research. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... Tobacco companies are using their first witness to argue they aren't liable for the health care costs of smoking - as the state and Blue Cross Blue Shield claim - because smokers choose to smoke knowing the health risks. Over the past two days, history professor Hy Berman cited massive media coverage and public education in the 50s and 60s to conclude Minnesotans have been a
March 25, 1998 - Today, in the first full day of defense testimony, the tobacco companies' witness in the state's trial discussed the volume of information on smoking and health available to Minnesotans. A key defense argument is that the dangers of smoking were well-known, therefore tobacco companies didn't mislead the public about health risks...as the state and Blue Cross Blue Shield claim. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... Yesterday, University of Minnesota historian Hy Berman ended his testimoney with a Christopher Columbus' quote on the vice of tobacco. Today, he picked up his history lesson where he left off, moving int
March 25, 1998 - More than two months into Minnesota's tobacco trial, the defense has called its first witness - University of Minnesota history professor Hy Berman. The state and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota rested their case against tobacco companies yesterday, but could call more witnesses later in the trial. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... Tobacco companies could not have begun their case with a more likable witness - even the state's lead attorney called Hy Berman a "nice fellow". The jovial, round-faced professor may have charmed jurors by offering to invite them to his home to show them his research - he said his wife would even make c
March 18, 1998 - The state and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota today began trying to prove tobacco companies violated anti-trust laws by conspiring to suppress smoking and health research. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... Anti-trust expert Adam Jaffe testified the tobacco industry's confidential documents show the companies engaged in a 40-year conspiracy to suppress research linking smoking with disease. Jaffe, a Brandeis University economics professor, said the conspiracy began in the mid-50s, when companies knew they had to try to stop public panic in the face of increasing s
March 17, 1998 - The Minnesota Court of Appeals today ordered tobacco companies to turn over about 40-thousand documents they've fought to keep secret under attorney-client privilege. The documents are likely to give the state and Blue Cross Blue Shield more ammunition in their case against the tobacco industry. Meanwhile, today's testimony by a marketing expert focused on two of the state's major claims in the case - that tobacco companies targeted teens with their ads and misled the public about the health risks of smoking. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
March 16, 1998 - Jurors in Minnesota's tobacco trial today heard testimony relating to two of the state's major claims in the case - that tobacco companies manipulated nicotine in cigarettes to hook smokers, and marketed their products to young people. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... Jurors watched the video-taped deposition of Brown and Williamson's director of leaf blending taken two months ago. Roger Black said B and W contracted with a company called DNA Plant Technologies to genetically alter tobacco plants to increase nicotine content. He said the resulting strain - known as Y-1 - has twice the nicotine of conventional tobacco plants. Black sa
March 16, 1998 - As Minnesota's tobacco trial enters its eighth week of testimony, the state is likely to rest its case. The state and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota are suing tobacco companies for nearly two-billion dollars in treating smoking-related illnesses. Minnesota's case has already gone further than many predicted. Some analysts say a settlement could be right around the corner. Others believe the case is likely to go all the way to a jury verdict. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports... From day one, many analysts said of all the state tobacco lawsui
March 12, 1998 - Former top researchers from two of the nation's largest cigarette makers testified today in Minnesota's tobacco trial that their companies didn't do any substantive research into the health effects of smoking. The state claims tobacco companies have long known smoking causes disease, and hid that information from the public. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.
March 11, 1998 - Tobacco companies today called for a new judge in Minnesota's tobacco trial. They say Judge Kenneth Fitzpatrick has repeatedly shown bias against the tobacco industry, destroying their right to a fair trial. Attorneys for the state call the request a "desperate act by a desperate industry." Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports.