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Tobacco executive apologizes for sending promotional letter to woman after her death

Brookes

June 16, 2000
Web posted at: 1:16 p.m. EDT (1716 GMT)

MIAMI (CNN) -- The chief executive officer of the third largest U.S. tobacco maker found himself apologizing Friday when plaintiffs pointed out his company sent a promotional mailing to one of the plaintiffs in the Florida smokers case.

Nicholas Brookes, the head of Brown & Williamson Tobacco, Corp., was shown a mass mailing which the tobacco company sent to its customers. One of its customers was the late Angie Della Vecchia, one of the suit's named plaintiffs.

Smokers' attorney Stanley Rosenblatt asked, "Are you aware Mr. Brookes that that's a promotion that went to Angie Della Vecchia after she died?"

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Brookes responded, "No I'm not, and if that is indeed the case, I very much apologize for it."

Brookes admitted there was no system in place to catch the error but agreed it would be a good idea to have one.

Angie Della Vechia is now represented by her husband, Ralph. He is one of an estimated 500,000 smokers and survivors who are suing the industry for damages for causing the cancer and disease which they claim came from years of smoking.

So far, the jury of six has agreed with the plaintiffs. Last year, the jury found the industry guilty of making a dangerous and defective product, and willfully hiding the dangers of smoking from the public. In phase two of the case, the jury awarded $12.7 Million in compensatory damages to three of the named plaintiffs including Ralph Della Vechia.

They are now in the punitive phase of the case. Industry leaders have argued that they should not pay any money in punitive damages because they have changed their ways in recent years and are now paying $255 billion in the national settlement with 46 states, payed out over 25 years.

Brookes is the second CEO to testify on behalf of the cigarette industry. On Thursday, Brookes was definitive in his belief that smoking causes cancer and is addictive. He also expressed his remorse and apologized for his products having caused the sickness and death to the plaintiffs who are suing his company.

Earlier in the week, the jury heard from the CEO of the Philip Morris tobacco company, Michael Szymanczyk. The CEOs of cigarette manufacturers Liggette, Lorillard, and R.J. Reynolds are also scheduled to testify in the trial, which began almost two years ago.

Philip Morris chief testifies in Florida tobacco trial
June 12, 2000

Brown & Williamson Tobacco, Corp.
Philip Morris

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