Connecticut Attorney General's Office

News Release

Blumenthal Announces Plan to File Lawsuit Against Tobacco Companies

May 1, 1996

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal announced today that he plans to file a lawsuit against tobacco companies to recoup money spent by the state to pay for tobacco-related illnesses.

"Taxpayers have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to pay for the lies and deceptions of the tobacco industry," Blumenthal said. "We are preparing to file a lawsuit that will demand repayment for state expenses for tobacco-related illnesses."

Blumenthal made the announcement today as he filed notices with newspapers throughout Connecticut seeking proposals for law firms to work with the state on the lawsuit.

"The evidence against the tobacco industry is staggering," Blumenthal said. "Tobacco companies executives said nicotine was not addictive. Yet it is. Tobacco company executives said they didn't target teen-agers in their advertising. Yet they have. Tobacco companies knew of the dangers of their products. Yet they distorted and concealed the true facts from their customers."

"The tobacco industry clearly deceived the public for decades and put people needlessly at risk," Blumenthal said. "In the end, taxpayers have paid the tab for the addictive nature of nicotine and for the industry's non-stop campaign to recruit young people as smokers."

Blumenthal said he has spent considerable time considering whether to file a lawsuit and has consulted with other states that have filed suit or are considering filing suit.

"I cannot ignore the evidence that shows that the tobacco industry is responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars in state expenses," Blumenthal said. "Taxpayers deserve to be compensated for the reckless actions of the tobacco industry and we believe this lawsuit will succeed in bringing millions of dollars back to taxpayers."

Blumenthal said he is evaluating the particular elements of a lawsuit and is working with interested private sources to provide funding for a lawsuit. He said he hopes to file the lawsuit within weeks.

Blumenthal said proposed legislation that would have bolstered the lawsuit is stalled in the General Assembly and does not appear to be likely to pass. However, he said that will not prevent the lawsuit from being brought.

Eight states have filed lawsuits against tobacco companies, including Maryland, which filed its lawsuit today. The other states are: Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Texas and West Virginia. Also, New Jersey last month announced that it would also file a lawsuit and is seeking law firms to work with the state.

Earlier this year, Blumenthal led a group of 29 state attorneys general in support of the FDA's proposed regulations for the tobacco industry. Since 1993, Blumenthal has led a statewide effort to encourage restaurants to completely ban smoking because of the dangers of second-hand smoke. And he has championed proposals to eliminate childrens' access to tobacco products.