Disclosure of a trove of insider documents by paralegal Merrell Williams and the 1994 Congressional hearings by the Waxman Committee set the stage for the Third Wave of lawsuits.
In the early-to-mid-1990s, more than 40 states commenced litigation against the tobacco industry, seeking monetary, equitable, and injunctive relief under various consumer-protection and antitrust laws. Mississippi, Florida, Texas and Minnesota were the first states to sue the tobacco companies to secure reimbursement for health care costs associated with smoking, and the four states settled with the tobacco industry defendants between 1997 and 1998.
Liggett & Myers broke ranks with the other cigarette companies in 1997 and settled cases and produced many previously confidential document. The evidence was posted on-line for the general public to view.
1998 – Master Settlement Agreement
In 1998, 46 states and the tobacco companies entered into a Master Settlement Agreement that set limitations on the companies and disbanded the Tobacco Institute and the Council for Tobacco Research.
Cases
Following are prominent Third Wave cases with links to detail pages:
- Castano v American Tobacco 1994
- Mississippi, Florida, Texas, Minnesota 1994-1998
- Horowitz v Lorillard 1995-1997
- Carter v Brown & Williamson 1996-2001
- Broin v Philip Morris et al 1997
- Falise v American Tobacco 1997-2001
- Blankenship v R.J. Reynolds et al 1997-2014
- MSA (Master Settlement Agreement) 1998
- Minnesota and Blue Cross Blue Shield v Philip Morris et al 1998
- Dunn/Wiley v RJ Reynolds 1998
- International Association of Bridge and Ironworkers, Local #17 v Philip Morris et al 1998-1999
- Engle v Philip Morris 1998-2000
- United States v Philip Morris 1999-2006
- Williams v Philip Morris 1999-2012
- Henley v Philip Morris 1999
- Whiteley v Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds 2000-2007
- Miles v Philip Morris 2000-2014
- Boeken v Philip Morris 2001
- Bullock v Philip Morris 2002
- Scott v American Tobacco 2004
- Evans v Lorillard 2004-2013
- Engle Progeny 2009-present