Imperial Tobacco spokesman Eric Gagnon speaks to reporters on March 1, 2019. RYAN REMIORZ/THE CANADIAN PRESS
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“Earlier this month, the Quebec Court of Appeal upheld a 2015 ruling in a lower court that found the tobacco companies (Imperial Tobacco, JTI-Macdonald and Rothmans-Benson & Hedges) concealed the health risks of smoking from the public. The decision means the three companies have to pay about $13.5-billion in damages to about 100,000 Quebec smokers who were harmed by cigarettes or who couldn’t quit smoking. It’s believed to be the biggest award in Canadian history.”
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The 422-page decision concluded that the tobacco companies failed to demonstrate errors of law in the lower court ruling, “except on certain minor points.”
Rothmans-Benson & Hedges denounced the judgment and said it would seek leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.
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Imperial Tobacco Canada granted creditor protection after losing Quebec legal battle
