European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 27, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Wednesday March 27, 1991 the stars and stripes a Page 5court to Rule on cigarette liability Washington a the supreme court agreed monday to decide whether cigarette makers May be exposed to lawsuits a potentially Worth billions of dollars a that accuse them of concealing the dangers of smoking. Anti smoking activists said a defeat for tobacco companies could raise cigarette supreme court prices by More than $2 a pack or even plunge the Industry into bankruptcy. Cigarette companies said they Welcome the High courts action noting they had urged its intervention. The justices will resolve lower court conflicts Over the question does Federal Law shield manufacturers from accusations that they do not give smokers adequate warnings about health hazards the court will study the Issue in a Long running Battle Between the tobacco Industry and the family of Rose Cipollone a new Jersey woman who died of lung cancer. A ruling the first by the justices in a dispute Over the dangers of smoking is expected in 1992. In other action the court a left intact the Federal Rule Banning airline captains Over 60 from piloting Large planes. A rejected an Appeal that it give medical patients a share of the profits if their extracted blood or organs become a source of lucrative scientific research. The court without comment turned away arguments by a Seattle leukaemia victim who sought to sue California education officials and researchers. A left intact a California anti loitering Law aimed at protecting children at their schools and other Public places where they gather. A refused to revive a lawsuit that accused Cleveland of discriminating against in the stars and stripes10 year Sago March 27,1981 a five elderly residents in Spokane wash., who had their Teeth removed under a state funded program were told that because of budget cuts no More state Money is available for Purchase of dentures. .20 year Sago March 27,1971 a sheikh Mujibur Rahman declared Independence for East Pakistan As heavy fighting raged Between bengalis and pakistani army troops. The declaration came in a radio broadcast that declared the 75 million people of East Pakistan to be citizens of the soverign Independent nation of bangladesh.30 year Sago March 27,1961 a Cincinnati upset defending Champion Ohio state 7065 in overtime to win the Mcaa menus basketball title and end the buckeyes 32-game winning Streak. 40years ago March 27,1951 a president Truman told the foreign ministers of 21 republics in Central and South America that aggressive soviet expansion threatened the whole world. He then proposed a seven Point program to help the Western hemisphere nations counter it. Women who want to be City firefighters. In the smoking lawsuits Case tobacco Industry critics were jubilant Over the courts action. Richard Daynard a northeastern University Law professor who Heads an antismoking group said a loss for the cigarette companies would mean they a finally must Bear the responsibility for the death and disease they cause. It would make the Price of cigarettes reflect their True social  an Avalanche of lawsuits by smokers could Force the Industry to increase the Price of a pack of cigarettes by More than $2 to pay off Legal claims he said. Tobacco stocks fell slightly on Wall Street in a Day of trading that saw a Small increase in Stock prices generally As measured by a nearly 7-Point Rise in the Dow Jones average. The american cancer society estimates that 390,000 americans will die in 1991 from smoking related diseases including 143,000 from lung cancer. Anti smoking activist John Banzhaf a George Washington University Law professor said a Cipollone Victory could mean a bankruptcy of the tobacco  Marc Edell a lawyer for the Cipollone family said a Victory for his clients a could change the whole Way in which the tobacco Industry deals with its Consumers. There is no incentive for the companies to be More forthcoming about the dangers of smoking he said tobacco companies noted that most lower courts have ruled in their favor. A High court Victory would substantially immunize cigarette makers from big Money damages and create a major disincentive to sue the firms claimed. A a we re pleased that the court has accepted the Case for review and will resolve the Clear conflict in the lower courts a said David Ken off a lawyer for Antonio Cipollone Philip Morris inc. The Cipollone Case began in 1983, when Antonio and Rose Cipollone of Little ferry n.j., sued three companies that manufactured the cigarettes she smoked. A Federal jury in 1988 ordered Liggett group inc. To pay Antonio Cipollone $400,000, but absolved Philip Morris inc. And Lorillard inc. The award was the nations first monetary damage judgment against the tobacco Industry. Mrs. Cipollone who smoked More than a pack of cigarettes a Day for More than 40 years died in 1984 at age 58 of lung cancer. Her husband died in 1990 at 66. The couples son Thomas has carried on the Legal fight. Rose Cipollone the Philadelphia based 3rd . Circuit court of appeals last year overturned the $400,000 award. It ordered a new trial that could Lead to a bigger judgment against the tobacco  but the appeals court in a key Victory for the cigarette companies ruled that the Federal cigarette Labelling and advertising act Shields the Industry from Post-1965 claims Over the adequacy of health warnings. The Law which took effect in 1966, requires All cigarette packages and cigarette advertising to contain a health warning. Mrs. Cipollone who started smoking at age 16, said she was influenced greatly Over the years by cigarette advertising and Industry health claims. Bush takes no action on Appeal by automakers to reduce imports Washington a president Bush discussed the ailing . Auto Industry with the chairmen of the big three but promised no crackdown on japanese imports or other government action the White House said monday. The president held an unusual joint meeting March 20 with Chrysler corp. Chairman Lee Iacocca Ford motor co. Chairman Harold Poling and Robert Stumpel chairman of general motors corp. The meeting was requested by the Auto executives whose companies Are expected to Post combined losses of $3 billion for the current Quarter. Spokesmen for the three companies declined to provide details of the conversation. But White House press Secretary Marlin Fitzwater said the topics included the recession automobile imports and legislation pending in Congress that would mandate drastic fuel Economy improvements. A the president listened to their concerns told them that we would consider their problems but took no position on any of the specific issues a Fitzwater said. A so there Are no decisions to come out of the meeting no course of  Fitzwater said that when Bush and japanese prime minister Toshiki Kaifu meet on april 4 in California a a in a certain  be talking about Trade and. Economic  but he said he did no to know to what extent Auto Trade would he discussed. "1 done to think we be worked out an Agenda at this Point a Fitzwater said. Iacocca told Bush in a March 6 letter that unless the japanese began cutting vehicle shipments to the United states their share of the . Market might reach As High As 40 percent. If that happened he said Chrysler would be Quot gone and Ford a could be mortally  general motors the worlds biggest automaker would be a at risk a Iacocca wrote. N. Y. Rally protests cuts in free condoms by the new York times new York chanting a a Latex and holding signs that said a give me condoms or give me death a represent. Tives of several health groups marched monday in front of the new York City department of health. The groups were protesting cuts in financing that will reduce the number of free condoms the City distributes. The health department will distribute 1 million condoms this year compared with 4.5 million last year. Dozens of organizations were notified late last year that because of a projected City budget deficit of Over $3 billion in the next fiscal year the distribution of condoms had been limited to those programs operated by the health department. Representatives of other organizations who marched monday which included teen age pregnancy networks act up a the aids coalition to unleash Power a and the Brooklyn aids task Force said that such a policy would mean More deaths from aids. A without condoms there will be a tremendous increase in aids cases a said Robert Dixon Peterson a spokesman for the Gay menus health crisis. A condom distribution is Cost effective. It will Cost More for the health and hospitals corporation to provide Beds for people with aids than to spend pennies to provide  of the 4.5 million condoms the health department distributed last year 2.6 million went to the departments clinical services 600,000 to about 60 Community organizations. Under contract to the health department and 1.3 million to about 250 other groups. This year the health department anticipates it will Only have enough Money to Supply 1 million condoms to its own clinics. It is negotiating with the f ederal centers for disease control to use Federal Money to resume distribution of about 600,000 condoms to about 60 Community based organizations. A we done to anticipate Well he Able to resume condom distribution to the other 250 organizations a Margaret Karanja a spokeswoman for the health department said monday