Improving Health Through the Power of Law
Improving Health Through the Power of Law
» The Verdict Is In presents highlights from the landmark opinion
June 27, 2008
Tobacco Control Legal Consortium Files Amicus Brief in Supreme Court “Light” Cigarette Case
On June 18, 2008, the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in the significant “light” cigarette advertising case, Altria v. Good (07-562). Read more about this amicus brief.
July 1, 2008
Iowa Goes Smoke-free
Iowa’s Smokefree Air Act goes into effect today. Signed by Governor Culver on April 15, the law prohibits smoking in nearly all workplaces, including restaurants and bars, all public places and certain outdoor areas. Learn more about the Iowa Smokefree Air Act.
In 2006, the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium prepared “The Verdict Is In: Findings from United States v. Philip Morris,” a compilation of key quotes from the 1,700-page historic opinion of the Honorable Gladys Kessler of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In 2006 and 2007, we distributed a number of print copies to public health advocates and attorneys around the U.S., and posted the publication on the Consortium’s website. Since then, we continue to receive requests for this publication not just from around the U.S., but from around the world. This month, one of the leading tobacco control organizations in Brazil, ACTbr, the Aliança de Controle do Tabagismo, translated “The Verdict Is In” into Portuguese, printed 3,000 copies, and is distributing it in Brazil in both print and electronic form.
The latest law synopsis by the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium is an overview of smoke-free workplace policies that help fulfill an employer’s legal obligation to provide a safe workplace and protect employee health, while reducing the employer’s legal risk.
» Workplace Smoking: Options for Employees and Legal Risks for Employers PDF, 1.6 Mb
Leslie Zellers & Samantha K. Graff April 2008
On Thursday, May 8, the Tobacco Law Center, in conjunction with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, hosted a reception at the Minneapolis Marriott Southwest in Minnetonka to commemorate the ten year anniversary of the historic Minnesota Tobacco Settlement. Former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop has called the settlement “one of the most significant public health achievements of the second half of the 20th century.” The reception capped off Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Prevention Minnesota Conference, a conference focusing on Blue Cross’ three health target areas: tobacco control, healthy eating and physical activity.
Doug D. Blanke, Director of the Tobacco Law Center, introduced the key participants in the original litigation who were attending the event: Andrew P. Czajkowski, former chief executive officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota; Michael V. Ciresi, partner with Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi; Hubert H. “Skip” Humphrey III, former attorney general for the state of Minnesota; and Kenneth J. Fitzpatrick, presiding Ramsey County judge for the trial. The participants shared a few memories of the trial and spoke briefly on the settlement’s legacy, and each litigant received a plaque memorializing his involvement in the lawsuit.
» View photos of the reception on Flickr
Ten years ago, Minnesota reached an historic settlement with the tobacco industry. The landmark agreement opened the tobacco industry’s secret document vaults, exposing fifty years of deception. It created the first ban on cigarette marketing aimed at children. It brought down tobacco billboards and imposed the first bans on tobacco-branded merchandise and secret payments for using cigarettes in movies. It funded support for Minnesota smokers who want to quit. And it required the tobacco industry to pay the state of Minnesota $6.1 billion.
The Tobacco Law Center at William Mitchell College of Law played an instrumental role as a legal resource during the drafting and debate of Minnesota’s new statewide smoke-free law. The Freedom to Breathe legislation eliminates smoking in all indoor public places and indoor places of employment, including bars and restaurants.
» William Mitchell College of Law profiles the Tobacco Law Center
» Freedom to Breathe PDF, 45 Kb
A summary of the Freedom to Breathe Provisions in the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act
A fact sheet from the Minnesota Department of Health
The Tobacco Law Center works to improve tobacco control laws and policies at local, national, and international levels. Through research, policy development, and analysis, technical assistance and consulting, the center helps policymakers, nonprofit organizations, advocates, and health professionals address tobacco-related legal issues.