Asbestos Contribution Cases

Cases are pending against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in which asbestos companies and/or asbestos-related trust funds allege that they "overpaid" claims brought against them. These cases assert that tobacco use, not asbestos exposure, was the cause of the alleged personal injuries for which they paid compensation. Most of these cases have been dismissed.

Our Viewpoint

• We believe that there is no legal basis for asbestos-related trust funds or asbestos companies to recover money from tobacco companies to offset damages assessed against them or settlements paid by the asbestos industry.
• Similar to other third-party cost recovery claims, these claims are too remote to support any legal recovery.