First Regular Session
Sixty-first General Assembly
LLS NO. R97@0780.01 MTJ
STATE OF COLORADO
BY REPRESENTATIVE Gordon;
also SENATOR Chlouber.
JUDICIARY
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 97-1036
WHEREAS, Attorneys General from twentytwo states
have engaged in litigation against the largest tobacco companies
seeking reimbursement for medical expenses paid by the states
in treating diseases and illnesses caused by tobacco use; and
WHEREAS, One tobacco company, Liggett Group, Inc.
("Liggett"), has settled these lawsuits for twentyfive
percent of its pretax income over the next twentyfive
years. The money is to be used to reimburse states and to finance
public service advertisements warning against the health dangers
of smoking; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the monetary settlement,
Liggett agreed to turn over to the courts company documents that
chronicle legal discussions that Liggett has had with the other
four major U.S. tobacco companies; and
WHEREAS, As a further part of the settlement, Liggett
made the following statement: "We at Liggett know and acknowledge
that ... cigarette smoking causes health problems including lung
cancer, heart and vascular disease, and emphysema. We at Liggett
also know and acknowledge that ... nicotine is addictive.";
and
WHEREAS, The settlement with Liggett has increased
the likelihood that the other tobacco companies will also settle;
and
WHEREAS, The states involved in these lawsuits are
asking for large amounts of money (including requests by New York
for $10 billion, Indiana for over $1 billion, and Maryland for
$3 billion), with one possible global settlement being discussed
calling for payments of $131 billion over fifteen years; and
WHEREAS, Many of the Attorneys General involved in
this litigation have hired on a contingency fee basis private
law firms that have agreed to advance all or part of the litigation
costs so that these cases can be handled at minimal cost to the
citizens of their states; and
WHEREAS, Colorado should participate in this litigation
in order to preserve Colorado's right to be compensated for costs
that Colorado taxpayers have sustained caring for diseases and
illnesses caused by tobacco use; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives
of the Sixtyfirst General Assembly of the State of Colorado,
the Senate concurring herein:
That Attorney General Gale Norton is strongly urged
to file suit against the tobacco companies named in the lawsuits
filed by other states' Attorneys General, in order to participate
in any recovery against the tobacco companies and in any potential
global settlement between the Attorneys General and the tobacco
companies.
Be It Further Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be sent to Attorney General Gale Norton and to Governor Roy Romer.