In Canada, a historic decision has just been announced and is causing a stir. Indeed, the Quebec Court of Appeal has just found that it is necessary to compensate smokers or ex-smokers with emphysema, lung cancer or throat cancer. Once confirmed, the conviction of three cigarette manufacturers will be well over $ 15 billion to be paid directly to tobacco victims.
A TRUE BLOW OF TONNERRE IN QUEBEC!
It's a decision HISTORY For plaintiffs' lawyers. The 1er In March, the Quebec Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of three cigarette manufacturers to pay more than 15 billion Canadian dollars in damages to tens of thousands of tobacco victims. This represents more than 10 billion euros. The court had been seized in two class actions filed since 1998 and representing more than one million Quebeckers, some of whom had been smoking since the 1960 years. The lawsuit had only been opened in March 2012.
In 2015 already, the Quebec Superior Court had sentenced British American Tobacco, Rothmans Benson & Hedges et Japan Tobacco International to pay 15,5 billions of Canadian dollars to victims, smokers or former smokers with emphysema, lung cancer or throat cancer. The trial judge had in fact withheld four charges, including general duty not to cause harm to others »And« duty to inform customers of the risks and dangers of their products"
« In the fifty or so years of the class action period, and for the seventeen years since, corporations have made billions of dollars at the expense of the lungs, throats and general well-being of their families. clients“, Underlined the magistrate. The tobacco companies have one month to launch a possible appeal to the Supreme Court. " The risks associated with smoking are known in Canada. We should not be held responsible »Defended himself Eric Gagnon, spokesperson for Imperial Tobacco Canada.
Source : USAinformations
