Koballa v. Philip Morris, et al

This article is part of the Tobacco portal on Sourcewatch funded from 2006 - 2009 by the American Legacy Foundation.

The case of Stella Koballa, et al., etc. v. Philip Morris U.S.A., Inc., et al., etc. is a civil lawsuit filed against Philip Morris U.S.A., Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and several other large tobacco firms in 2007. The case was filed on behalf of Stella Koballa, a lung cancer survivor who also suffers from emphysema. As with many other court cases against the tobacco companeis, Koballa alleges that cigarette makers concealed information about the hazards of smoking during the 1950s and 1960s, causing individuals to smoke without regard to health risks, including cancer.

The case became controversial because during the case, lawyers for R.J. Reynolds subpoenaed an unfinished manuscript about the history of the global tobacco industry written by Stanford history professor Robert Neal Proctor, who was tapped to serve as an expert witness for the plaintiff in the case. Proctor and lawyers for the plaintiff lawyers are contesting the subpoena, saying the attempt to reveal the unfinished manuscript is an effort to harass and intimidate Dr. Proctor, and ruin his credibility. They maintain that if the defense obtains the manuscript, it would have a chilling effect on other experts who may be asked to testify against the industry.

Sourcewatch resources

• Robert Neal Proctor
• R.J. Reynolds
• Philip Morris