MONTREAL - The tobacco companies Imperial Tobacco Canada and Rothmans, Benson & Hedges are ordered by the Court of Appeal of Quebec to post in bond a total of close a billion dollars in a case on appeal.
According to a judgment rendered by the Superior Court of Quebec at the end of May and appealed, a total amount of more than 15,6 $ 000 must be paid by tobacco companies to smokers who are either sick or become addicted to the cigarette.
The Quebec Council on Tobacco and Health, responding in this class action, spoke on Tuesday of a "nice victoryAnd a "moral guaranteeFor the victims until the courts decide on the merits of this case.
«We are very happy with the decision, it is a great victory for the tobacco victims, who will finally have the certainty, the possibility of having money if at the end of an appeal, the decision is maintained on the judgment of last MaySaid in an interview the Director General of the Quebec Council on Tobacco and Health, Mario Bujold.
The organization was afraid of not seeing the color of money in the event of a victory in the end, saying that these companies could send their profits to the parent company and not count the necessary assets in the country in case of setbacks in the cause .
«It could have been very long, or even impossible. The companies here were really doing everything they could to get their assets abroad, at the parent company. (...) It jeopardized access to justice 
100 000 victims we represent in this class actionSaid Bujold.
This bond of 984 $ millions represents a certain guarantee for the victims, according to the Quebec Council on Tobacco and Health. As a result, Imperial Tobacco Canada will have to pay a security deposit to the Ontario Court of 758 $ millions, and Rothmans, Benson & Hedges will have to do the same for an amount of 226 $ millions.
Of the three tobacco companies already sentenced to pay damages, JTI Macdonald is not included in this bond judgment. Mr. Bujold explained that JTI was under the Creditor Protection Act and could not be represented in court.within a reasonable time».
While talking about a bond amountnever seenMr. Bujold recalled that the respondents first asked the Court of Appeal for an amount of 4,3 billion.
Source : Journalmetro.com
