Federal Judiciary

U.S. seeks $280 billion tobacco remedy

By Akin Gump Supreme Court Practice Group

The Obama Administration on Friday asked the Supreme Court to restore the government’s power to demand a huge turnover of tobacco industry profits, putting it in position to recover some $280 billion of what federal lawyers called “ill-gotten gains.” In a series of industry appeals, also filed Friday, the tobacco companies asked the Court to overturn a ruling that they did violate the federal RICO anti-racketeering law by the way they marketed cigarettes and other smoking products.  By the time new filings are finished later today, the Court may have as many as six cases seeking review.

The Administration’s new petition is here.  A petition by Philip Morris Co. is here; by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco is here. by Altria Group is here; by British American Tobacco Co. is here.  A coalition of anti-smoking advocates also appealed, urging the Court to restore a trial judge’s order requiring the tobacco industry to create a smoking-cessation program for youths.

Full post as published by SCOTUSBLOG on February 19, 2010 (boomark / email).