Tobacco:
Lawsuits Facing the Cigarette Industry in the United States
RCED/OCE-98-262R: Published: Aug 28, 1998. Publicly Released: Sep 28, 1998.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
(202) 512-9692
contact@gao.gov
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO identified the number of lawsuits pending against the cigarette industry in the absence of a national settlement, focusing on the: (1) recent trend in the number of tobacco-related lawsuits pending against the five largest cigarette companies in the United States; and (2) number of these lawsuits that, to date, have been decided or settled and that have resulted, or will result, in some form of payment to the plaintiffs and the amount of these payments.
GAO noted that: (1) from 1994 through 1997, tobacco-related lawsuits pending in the United States against each of the five largest cigarette companies have increased about 10-fold, on average; (2) the companies' 1997 Securities and Exchange Commission filings and annual reports show that between about 364 and 547 lawsuits were pending against each of these companies--up from between about 24 and 86 lawsuits at the end of 1994; and (3) since 1996, 16 settlements or decisions have required these companies to make monetary payments of about $41.8 billion over 25 years.
Nov 23, 2020
-
Consumer Privacy:
Better Disclosures Needed on Information Sharing by Banks and Credit UnionsGAO-21-36: Published: Oct 22, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 23, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
-
Consumer Product Safety Commission:
Actions Needed to Improve Processes for Addressing Product Defect CasesGAO-21-56: Published: Nov 19, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Oct 30, 2020
-
Small Business Loans:
SBA Generally Incorporated Key Elements for Estimating Subsidy Cost of 7(a) ProgramGAO-20-618: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 30, 2020.
Oct 13, 2020
-
Aviation Consumer Protection:
Increased Transparency Could Help Build Confidence in DOT's Enforcement ApproachGAO-21-109: Published: Oct 13, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 13, 2020.
Oct 1, 2020
-
Small Business Administration:
COVID-19 Loans Lack Controls and Are Susceptible to FraudGAO-21-117T: Published: Oct 1, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 1, 2020.
Sep 30, 2020
-
Small Business Research Programs:
Many Agencies' Award Issuances Are Not Timely; Some Practices May Improve TimelinessGAO-20-693: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020.
Sep 28, 2020
-
Intellectual Property:
Additional Agency Actions Can Improve Assistance to Small Businesses and InventorsGAO-20-556: Published: Aug 27, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 28, 2020.
Jul 30, 2020
-
Small Business Contracting:
Better Documentation and Reporting Needed on Procurement Center RepresentativesGAO-20-462: Published: Jun 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Jul 30, 2020.
Jun 29, 2020
-
Small Business Subcontracting:
Oversight of Contractor Compliance with Subcontracting Plans Needs ImprovementGAO-20-464: Published: May 28, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 29, 2020.
Jun 22, 2020
-
Small Business Development Centers:
Reevaluation of How SBA Sets Initial Funding Estimate Needed to Help Reduce BurdenGAO-20-457: Published: May 22, 2020. Publicly Released: Jun 22, 2020.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here