Alabama Hospital Sues Tobacco Companies To Recoup Costs of Treating Indigent Patients for Smoking-Related Illnesses

An Alabama public hospital is suing the tobacco industry over costs incurred over the last 20 years for treating poor and uninsured people for smoking-related illnesses, the Birmingham News reports. The suit, filed Oct. 10 in Jefferson County, Ala., on behalf of Birmingham-based Cooper Green Hospital, claims that Medicaid did not cover all expenses associated with caring for indigent patients and that Jefferson County had to use taxpayer money to cover the remaining treatment costs. Although the suit does not stipulate the exact amount the hospital is seeking for reimbursement, plaintiffs' attorney Scott Powell estimates it will be hundreds of millions of dollars. The suit names eight defendants, including Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, American Tobacco and Liggett & Myers. Powell said he believes tobacco companies should pay for costs associated with caring for smoking-related illnesses because "they created the problem and not taxpayers," the Birmingham News reports. Steven Rissman, associate general counsel for Phillip Morris, said he had not seen the suit, but added that comparable lawsuits have been dismissed for being "legally improper," adding, "I can't imagine that this case will fare any better." Powell and lawyer James Pratt are trying to get class-action status for the suit on behalf of other Alabama public hospitals (Temple, Birmingham News, 10/16).