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1994 |
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| Mississippi files first state lawsuit against tobacco industry. Minnesota and West Virginia become second and third states to file. | ||
1995 |
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| Two additional states file lawsuits against the industry. | ||
1996 |
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May |
AG Vacco conducts first-ever statewide undercover "sting" investigation of retail cigarette sales to minors; finds that 35 percent of retailers sold cigarettes to minors. | |
August |
New York opens pre-litigation negotiations with tobacco industry; demands reductions in teen smoking, monetary settlement to fund anti-smoking campaign. | |
October |
AG Vacco rejects industry settlement proposal; begins to draft N.Y.’s lawsuit.
AG Vacco unveils comprehensive legislative plan calling for photo I.D. for tobacco purchases, cash register "locks" to prompt I.D. checks and increased penalties for illegal sales. 13 additional states file suit against industry during 1996. |
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1997 |
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January |
AG Vacco files lawsuit against "big six" tobacco companies seeking reimbursement for health costs of smoking, penalties for luring minors. | |
April |
AG Vacco announces results of second series of underage sales "stings"; finds continued high non-compliance. Announces actions against violators. | |
June |
AG Vacco is part of core group of AG’s to draft comprehensive national tobacco plan, includes $368 billion in payments to states and additional penalties for continued sales to minors. Plan requires Congressional approval. | |
July |
Days after RJR announces plans to suspend controversial "Joe Camel" ad campaign, AG Vacco demands Philip Morris yank "Marboro Man" in show of good faith.
American Medical Association backs proposed tobacco accord negotiated by AG Vacco. |
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August |
Legislature approves sweeping teen anti-smoking initiative, including record funding to inform children about dangers of tobacco. | |
September |
President Clinton endorses AG’s national tobacco plan.
AG Vacco urges state lawmakers to enact measures to discourage teen smoking, including an increase in the state’s tobacco purchase age to 21 and stiffer penalties for sales to minors. AG Vacco travels to Washington to urge Congress to act on tobacco plan. |
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1998 |
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February |
AG Vacco teams up with state’s biggest outdoor advertiser to replace tobacco ads with teen-designed no smoking message. | |
April |
Amid growing Congressional inaction, RJR pulls out of national tobacco agreement.
President Clinton invites AG Vacco and other national anti-smoking leaders to the White House to discuss strategies to jump start national tobacco plan. AG Vacco files court motion to dissolve the Tobacco Institute and the Council for Tobacco Research, industry-funded "propaganda fronts" that allegedly deceived the public about the health risks of smoking. AG Vacco announces landmark agreements with Kmart and four of the nation’s other largest retailers to help prevent tobacco sales to teens. Pacts stemmed from Vacco’s earlier teen smoking "stings." |
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June |
U.S. Senate scraps efforts to act on national tobacco plan. AG Vacco vows to push ahead with NY’s lawsuit, now set for trial in early 1999. | |
October |
AG Vacco wins court approval to shut down the Center for Tobacco Research, the industry’s principal propaganda arm. CTR ordered out of its Midtown offices within six months. | |
November |
AG Vacco announces sweeping settlement with tobacco companies, resulting in over $200 billion in relief to states and comprehensive anti-smoking initiatives. |
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