LABORERS LOCAL 17 HEALTH & BEN. v. PHILIP MORRIS

Nos. 97 Civ. 4550(SAS), 97 Civ. 4676, 97 Civ. 7346, 97 Civ. 8462 and 97 Civ. 9395-9402.

7 F.Supp.2d 277 (1998)

LABORERS LOCAL 17 HEALTH & BENEFIT FUND and The Transport Workers Union New York City Private Bus Lines Health Benefit Trust, Plaintiffs, v. PHILIP MORRIS, INC., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., B.A.T. Indus. P/L/C/. Lorillard Tobacco Co., Inc., Liggett & Myers Inc., The American Tobacco Co., United States Tobacco Co., The Council for Tobacco Research-USA, Inc., The Tobacco Institute, Inc., Smokeless Tobacco Council, Inc., and Hill & Knowlton, Inc., Defendants.

United States District Court, S.D. New York.

March 25, 1998.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Perry Weitz, Arthur M. Luxenberg, Steven E. Fineman, Karen J. Mandel, Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C., New York City, Melvyn I. Weiss, David J. Bershad, Michael C. Spencer, Kenneth J. Vianale, Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach LLP, New York City, William S. Lerach, Patrick J. Coughlin, Allen M. Mansfield, Milberg Weiss Bershad Hynes & Lerach LLP, San Diego, CA, Robert J. Connerton, James S. Ray, John McN. Broaddus, Connerton & Ray, Washington, D.C., Stephen Gordon, Joel Spivak, Mirkin & Gordon, Great Neck, NY, for plaintiffs in the Laborers Local 17 (97 Civ. 4550) and UFT (97 Civ. 4676) Actions.

Michael A. Ciaffa, G. Oliver Koppell, Meyer, Suozzi, English & Klein, P.C., Mineola, NY, Robert S. Schachter, Natalie Blaney, Zwerling, Schachter & Zwerling, LLP, New York City, Levy, Ratner & Behroozi, p.c., New York City, for plaintiffs in Puerto Rican ILGWU (97 Civ. 8462) and Later-filed Actions (97 Civ. 9395 through 97 Civ. 9402).

David Paul Horowitz, Law Office of David Paul Horowitz, New York City, for plaintiffs in cases 97 Civ. 9399 and 97 Civ. 9401 only.

Peter C. Hein, Barbara Robbins, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, New York City, Paul K. Stecker, Paul F. Jones, Phillips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine & Huber, Buffalo, New York, for defendant Philip Morris Incorporated.

Marjorie Press Lindblom, Peter A. Bellacosa, Kirkland & Ellis, New York City, David M. Bernick, Kirkland & Ellis, Chicago, IL, Kenneth N. Bass, Paul B. Taylor, Kirkland & Ellis, Washington, DC, for defendant Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation, including as successor by merger to defendant The American Tobacco Company.

Robert W. Gaffey, Michael S. Chernis, Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, New York City, Robert F. McDermott, Jr., Donald B. Ayer, Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, Washington, DC, for defendant R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp. and RJR Nabisco, Inc.

Mark Cunha, Adam Stein, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, New York City, for defendant B.A.T Industries p.l.c. in all cases and attorneys for defendant British-American Tobacco Company Ltd. in all cases except 97 Civ. 9395-9398, 97 Civ. 9400 and 07 Civ 9402.

Thomas J. McCormack, Robert Pruyne, Chadbourne & Parke, New York City, for defendant British-American Tobacco Company Ltd. in cases 97 Civ.9395-9398, 97 Civ. 9400 and 97 Civ. 9402.

Alan E. Mansfield, Greenberg, Traurig, Hoffman, Lipoff, Rosen & Quentel, New York City, Robert E. Northrip, Bruce R. Tepikian, Samuel B. Sebree, Shook, Hardy & Bacon, L.L.P., Kansas City, MO, for defendant Lorrilard Tobacco Company.

Peter J. McKenna, Eric S. Sarner, Mark S. Cheffo, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York City, for defendants United States Tobacco Company.

Anthony Mansfield, Seward & Kissel, New York City, for defendant The Tobacco Institute, Inc.

Steven Klugman, Debevoise & Plimpton, New York City, for defendant The Council for Tobacco Research-U.S.A., Inc.

Michael M. Fay, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman, New York City, for defendant Liggett Group, Inc.

Bruce M. Ginsberg, Michael C. Lasky, Davis & Gilbert, New York City, for defendant Hill & Knowlton, Inc.

Barry S. Schaevitz, Jacob, Medinger & Finnegan, LLP, New York City, for defendant Smokeless Tobacco Council, Inc.


OPINION AND ORDER

SCHEINDLIN, District Judge.

I. Background

Plaintiffs are labor union health and welfare trust funds (the "Funds") that supplement employers' basic medical benefits by providing death, disability and prescription drug benefits and related services. Defendants are tobacco companies and tobacco public relations firms. Plaintiffs allege that defendants have engaged in a conspiracy to deceive the general public, including plaintiffs...

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