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Article: Tobacco Cos. and Government Weigh Evidence
- Article from:
- AP Online
- Article date:
- November 18, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Associated Press. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Associated Press. (Hide copyright information)
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NANCY ZUCKERBROD, Associated Press Writer
AP Online
11-18-2004
Dateline: WASHINGTON
Government lawyers told a federal judge Thursday they had made the case that the tobacco industry conspired for decades to deceive the public about the dangers of smoking. Leading cigarette makers contended the government had failed to prove anything in the $280 billion racketeering case.
Both sides provided U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler with interim summaries in the trial, which began in September and is expected to last several more months.
Justice Department lawyer Stephen Brody said that while the industry did not admit that smoking causes cancer until about five years ago, there was a consensus long ...