Racketeering charges were filed back in 1999 by the Department of Justice based on federal prosecutors' claims that tobbacco companies attempted to deceive the public regarding the dangers of smoking (shocker, I know.). After a lengthy court battle and haggling over the terms of a proposed settlement amount, DC district court judge, Gladys Kessler declared that tobbacco companies have to make public statments repudiating their earlier false claims. A victory for the government, but perhaps a hollow one. Why? Read on at The Jurist.

-- MDT

Labels: Department of Justice