Court overturns $14.8 million fine against RJR

[derby378]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The California Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a $14.8 million fine the state imposed on R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. for illegally doling out free cigarettes at a beer fest, a biker rally and other public events.

The seven justices unanimously ruled that the tobacco firm violated state law when it handed out cigarettes and upheld the constitutionality of the law that R.J. Reynolds, based in Winston-Salem, N.C., had challenged.

"Distribution of cigarettes in any form, whether free of charge, sold at a discount, or sold at full retail price, creates the same health hazard, and should be equally subjected to state regulation," Justice Joyce Kennard wrote for the justices.

But the state's highest court sent the case back to a lower court to consider whether the fine was excessive.

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051222/NEWSREC0103/312220005

[Talismom]

1. stinkin' SOBs! Excessive my arse! n/t

[cosmicdot]

2. pocket change

to RJR Nabisco Holdings Corp./RJ Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc/Nabisco Group Holdings Corp
whatever it calls itself these days

The Era of Good ol'Boy Feelings - they're scratching each other's backs while the scratching is real fine. With the fed courts being tainted via appointments by an illegitimate administration, the scratching should get better.

where's T.Roosevelt when we need him? we need a new 'buster'.

Former RJR CEO Louis Gerstner is with the Carlyle Group now after a stint at IBM.

I'm so over this culture of corporations.
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tidbit:


Largest U.S. bankruptcies since 1980

Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:58 AM ET

the largest U.S. bankruptcies since 1980:

COMPANY/YEAR TOTAL ASSETS

Worldcom, Inc. (2002) $103,914,000,000
Enron Corp. (2001) 63,392,000,000
Conseco, Inc. (2002) 61,392,000,000
Texaco, Inc. (1987) 35,892,000,000
Financial Corp. of America (1988) 33,864,000,000
Refco Inc. (2005) 33,333,172,000
Global Crossing Ltd. (2002) 30,185,000,000
Pacific Gas and Electric Co.(2001) 29,770,000,000
Calpine Corp. (2005) 26,628,756,000
UAL Corp. (2002) 25,197,000,000
Delta Air Lines, Inc. (2005) 21,801,000,000
Adelphia Communications (2002) 21,499,000,000
MCorp (1989) 20,228,000,000
Mirant Corporation (2003) 19,415,000,000
Delphi Corporation (2005) 16,593,000,000

http://makeashorterlink.com/?F21352A5C

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[brentspeak]

3. "Where's TR?", is right

What happened to this country's anti-trust laws? Everything is a monopoly.