Twenty-five public health organizations file amicus brief against legal challenge from tobacco industry

Amicus Brief Filed Against Legal Challenge from Tobacco Industry

Twenty-five leading public health organizations today announced that they have filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief supporting New York City's groundbreaking tobacco retail signage law against a challenge from the tobacco industry. The groups, ranging from the American Medical Association to the National Association of County and City Health Officials, to the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium, all are committed to fighting for the good health of New Yorkers, by having anti-tobacco posters be displayed at retail outlets where tobacco products are sold.

In June of this year, three major tobacco companies – Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds and Lorillard – filed suit to block the New York City Board of Health's requirement that retail outlets post hard-hitting anti-tobacco posters where tobacco products are sold. The tobacco companies have asked the court to keep the New York City ordinance from taking effect, but the City has asked that the court issue a judgment so that anti-tobacco signage can be implemented without significant delay.

Research demonstrates that graphic anti-tobacco messages are a critically effective means of lowering tobacco use. They reduce intentions to smoke among youth, and promote intentions to quit among adults. The New York City program, based on successful campaigns in Canada, Australia and other nations, has the real potential to reduce tobacco consumption and save lives. With this requirement, New York City once again showed itself as a major and innovative public health leader in the United States.

Following overwhelming Federal verdicts of fraud and racketeering in 2006, which were upheld on appeal just last year, Big Tobacco has been trying to rehabilitate its image. However, the lawsuit brought against New York City's Board of Health again proves that tobacco companies are fighting as aggressively as ever against reasonable steps to prevent people from becoming addicted to their deadly products, and against reasonable efforts to help smokers quit.

"This filing reiterates how serious public health and policy leaders are about doing everything it takes to put an end to the hundreds of thousands of needless deaths from tobacco in this country every year," said

Cheryl G. Healton, DrPH, president and CEO of Legacy, the national public health foundation devoted to keeping young people from smoking and helping all smokers quit. "Tough warning signs like those being challenged in New York City are a proven-effective method that has the potential to dissuade smokers from buying tobacco products, and preventing non-smokers from making such purchases. Simply put, public health must always trump tobacco sales."