tobacco litigation

Litigation against the tobacco industry is among the most complex to be found anywhere. It is also high-profile, high-stakes, and dynamic. Over the last decade, thousands of individuals have filed suit, seeking recovery as single claimants, as proposed class representatives, or seeking joinder or some other form of claim aggregation. Various entities, such as union pension and health funds, hospitals, and governments, have also asserted claims, sometimes seeking multi-billion dollar awards. Plaintiffs in these suits have sought recovery under ever-changing theories that have ranged from RICO, to medical monitoring, to consumer fraud, to products liability. Most cases involve a large number of expert witnesses, offering opinions across a broad array of scientific disciplines and subject matters. Tens of millions of documents have been produced. Thousands of witnesses have testified.

Given the extraordinary challenges, complexity, and financial risk that characterize this litigation, it is understandable that relatively few firms have been chosen to represent tobacco companies as national counsel. To succeed in this environment, legal teams must have a great depth of experience -- the type that comes from trying and winning cases. They must have complete mastery of the scientific and technical issues; they must efficiently and effectively manage huge volumes of data; and they must advocate with credibility, clarity, focus, and resolve. Thompson Coburn LLP is proud to have successfully represented Lorillard Tobacco Company in this most challenging legal setting. We believe our accomplishments reflect the depth of our complex and mass tort litigation practice, and our ability to create legal teams with experience and expertise that are targeted to meet our clients’ needs.