Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 25, 1995 TAG: 9508250078
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short
The letter from Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., came as lawyers in a class-action lawsuit also served subpoenas on ABC-TV in a separate effort to get the documents.
The papers, from Philip Morris archives, are under seal by order of a Richmond, Va., court as part of Philip Morris' settlement of its $10 billion libel suit against ABC. Court arguments by ABC and Philip Morris lawyers indicate that the thousands of documents detail not only how Philip Morris controls nicotine levels in its cigarettes, but also why.
``There is no question more important than the motive question,'' Waxman wrote Geoffrey Bible, chairman of Philip Morris. ``If our goal is the pursuit of the truth, there can be no justification for withholding such critical documents from congressional and public scrutiny.''
Philip Morris did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Under the settlement, ABC apologized Monday night for reporting that Philip Morris ``spikes'' its cigarettes with nicotine from outside sources. The network also must return the documents to Philip Morris.
Meanwhile, ABC officials were served subpoenas Thursday ordering them to turn over the documents for use in the massive federal lawsuit known as the Castano case, said Washington attorney John P. Coale. The Castano case, filed in New Orleans on behalf of every smoker and former smoker, accuses tobacco companies of manipulating nicotine to addict smokers.
The subpoenas give ABC officials 10 days to comply.
by CNB