| 1954 | The Tobacco Industry Research Committee (later becomes Council on
Tobacco Research) issues a "Frank Statement" to the public, a nationwide
two-page ad that states cigarette makers don't believe their products are
injurious to a person's health. |
 |
| 1963 | Brown & Williamson general counsel Addison Yeaman notes in a
memo, "Nicotine is addictive. We are, then, in the business of selling
nicotine, an addictive drug." |
|
| 1964 | U.S. Surgeon General Luther Terry issues the first surgeon general report
citing health risks associated with smoking. |
|
| 1965 | U.S. Congress passes the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act,
requiring a surgeon general's warning on cigarette packs. |
|
| 1971 | All broadcast advertising for cigarettes is banned. |
|
| 1982 | U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop finds that secondhand smoke may
cause lung cancer. |
|
| 1988 | Judge Lee Sarokin rules that he has found evidence of tobacco industry
conspiracy in the Cipollone case; Liggett is ordered to pay Cipollone $400,000 in compensatory damages. |
|
| 1992 | Matthew Fishbein and other US Attorneys from the Eastern District of New
York open a federal probe into criminal wrongdoing by the tobacco industry,
focusing on Judge Sarokin's ruling in the Haines case; Sarokin called
the industry the "king of concealment." |
|
| 4/14/94 | Seven tobacco company executives testify during Rep. Henry
Waxman's congressional hearings that they believe "nicotine is not addictive." |
|
| May 1994 | Scruggs hand carries Brown & Williamson internal documents to Rep.
Waxman in Washington. |
|
| 5/7/94 | New York Times publishes Brown & Williamson internal documents,
saying they were received by a government official. |
|
| 5/12/94 | Stan Glantz at the University of California receives Brown &
Williamson internal documents from "Mr. Butts." |
|
| July 1994 | Justice Dept opens criminal investigation
into possible perjury by top tobacco
company executives in their testimony before the Congress during the Waxman
hearings. |
|
| 12/14/94 | Congressman Marty Meehan sends an 111-page
prosecution memo to the Justice Department, requesting that Janet Reno open
a formal criminal investigation against the tobacco industry and several of
their law firms and industry organizations. |
|
| Dec 1995 | Jeffrey Wigand is questioned by US Justice Dept officials (grand jury
testimony) in the criminal investigation of the tobacco Industry. |
|
| 6/20/97 | The tobacco companies and state attorneys general announce a
landmark $368.5 billion settlement agreement |
|
| 1/7/98 | Justice Department brings charges against the DNA Plant Technology
Corporation for their cooperation in developing Y-1 Tobacco, with high levels
of nicotine and illegally exporting seeds to Brazil. DNA Plant Technology
settles the case in exchange for testimony against Brown & Williamson
Tobacco Company. |
|
| 1/29/98 | Tobacco executives testify before Congress that nicotine is addictive
under current definitions of the word and smoking may cause cancer. |
