Wednesday, March 12, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
Nevada's version of the chain of class action lawsuits against the tobacco industry has been filed in Las Vegas.
The legal action, naming four Nevada smokers but filed on behalf of "similarly situated residents," charges the tobacco industry violated Nevada laws against "deceptive and unfair business practices."
Named as defendants are such industry giants as R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., the American Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris, Inc., plus their lobbying and publicity firms.
Also named is Churchill Tobacco Emporium, Inc., the Nevada company that markets and distributes tobacco products in Clark County.
As has been alleged in similar lawsuits, the Nevada action charges that "through a fraudulent course of conduct that has spanned decades, defendants have manufactured, promoted, distributed or sold tobacco products to millions of Nevada consumers."
The lawsuit painted a picture of the tobacco firms as conspiratorial corporations that concealed the addictive qualities of nicotine while manipulating the amount of the drug in the products to keep smokers "hooked."
In addition to alleging the companies violated Nevada's deceptive trade practices statutes, it also alleges that the tobacco industry violated laws prohibiting the use of cigarettes by minors.
"Marketing and promotional activities directed towards minors assist vendors in making illegal sales of cigarettes to minors," the lawsuit stated.
While the lawsuit seeks general and punitive damages, it also asks for an injunction declaring the companies violated Nevada law and requiring that the firms distribute all the information they have about the health risks of smoking.
The tobacco industry also is being asked to fund a public education campaign about the dangers of smoking, pay for "smoking cessation programs" and disclose the nicotine levels in their products.
The lawsuit also asks the court to order that the smoking industry "disgorge all profits acquired by means of any ... unfair or deceptive business practice."
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