Tobacco Company Settles Lawsuits

Re “Tobacco Company Admits Smoking Leads to Cancer,” March 21: Let Liggett be credited for finally fessing up to the lies of the life of this nation’s deadly cash crop. By doing so, it exposes its industry accomplices, Congress and a limp media, all who have ducked and dodged, yet profited from the crime and fraud that has contributed to untold millions of deaths attributed to tobacco use.

Truth always prevails, even when the tobacco industry’s pinstriped corporate executives raise their right hands before Congress to lie under oath that nicotine is not addictive, yet are now anxiously exporting the poison to unknowing victims abroad.

CHRIS F. FOTHERINGHAM

Carpinteria

* Eureka! In a historic agreement with the attorneys general of 22 states, Liggett Group admitted that it was always aware that tobacco is addictive, causes cancer, heart disease and emphysema. Liggett agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement to reimburse these states for medical costs incurred. The company also waived any client-attorney privilege in releasing its hitherto secret records.

Why wasn’t Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren and the state of California a party to this suit? Could it be that the millions of dollars of tobacco money contributions to the Republican Party affected his and Gov. Pete Wilson’s priorities?

LOU ROBINS

Van Nuys

* The states are accepting Liggett’s offer which includes, significantly, Liggett’s agreement to pay them 25% of future pretax profits. This is a Trojan horse! By giving us part of future profits, the company is making the revenue-starved public sector a full partner, and this will create an insidious dependency. Tobacco dollars will go to politicians, just like industry donations. Can any responsible person imagine going into business with a tobacco company?

We all know the facts. Tobacco is addictive. It kills. The industry is untrustworthy. Let’s do the right thing--give total jurisdiction to the FDA and expect it to do its job.

DONALD FUNK

Redondo Beach