Appeals court rejects lawsuit against cigarette makers
09/01/00
CINCINNATI (AP) -- A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected an Akron man's lawsuit against two cigarette makers over the 1997 death of his wife, a smoker.
The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court's dismissal of the lawsuit by John J. Glassner, whose wife, Ella, died in March 1997 at age 67.
John Glassner's lawsuit accused R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris Inc. of knowing that cigarette smoking caused diseases and that the companies conspired to conceal the risks from the public. He said the companies misrepresented the hazards to keep smokers addicted and get new ones hooked.
U.S. District Judge David Dowd Jr. dismissed the wrongful-death lawsuit in June 1999, ruling that Glassner failed to support his claims and sued under laws that did not apply. Appeals judges R. Guy Cole Jr., Gilbert Merritt and Damon Keith agreed and upheld the ruling.
Glassner's lawyers will discuss the decision with him before deciding whether to appeal further, said Chris Nolan, a lawyer for Glassner.
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