Casino workers lose to tobacco industry

The Press of Atlantic City newspaper reported the plaintiffs alleged they were vulnerable to, and suffered significant health problems from secondhand smoke pouring from smoking gamblers.

They said a 1995 test showed Bally's Park Place employees were exposed to nearly three times the level of secondhand smoke as the typical nonsmoking American worker.

But Superior Court Judge Marina Corodemus ruled there were so many variables among the potential plaintiffs and the tobacco products they were exposed to that she couldn't certify all casino workers as a class of plaintiffs.

"This litigation does not involve one product that was produced and purchased in a given year. These cases potentially cover 50 years of various brands and product designs. Each plaintiff has a (different) work and health history," the judge wrote, the Press reported.

The newspaper reported the judge told the casino workers they could continue their cases and possibly save money by consolidating the discovery process.

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