THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Wednesday, September 28, 1994          TAG: 9409280488
SECTION: BUSINESS                 PAGE: D2   EDITION: FINAL DIGEST
SOURCE: (AP)
                                             LENGTH: Short :   23 lines

LAWSUIT AGAINST TOBACCO INDUSTRY DISMISSED

A California judge has ruled 15 people could not recover damages from the tobacco industry for the costs of treating their cigarette addictions, the Philip Morris Companies Inc. said. But the lawyer who argued the case against Philip Morris and nine other defendants said there may be an appeal on the grounds that cigarette addiction is an economic injury, not a physical one. The class-action suit was dismissed Sept. 21 by the U.S. District Court, Southern District of California. Judge Irna E. Gonzales ruled the plaintiffs could not claim damages for personal injury under the federal Racketeering Influences and Corrupt Organizations Act, Philip Morris said. by CNB