Grippo & Elden Announces Republic Tobacco Wins $18.6 Million Defamation Suit Against North Atlantic Trading Company; Competition Held Accountable for Statements Made in 1998.Business Editors/Legal Writers CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 9, 2003 Glenview based Republic Tobacco was awarded $18.6 million in damages from New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of based North Atlantic Trading Company (NATC NATC Nevada Automotive Test Center NATC Naval Air Test Center NATC Nissan Advanced Technology Center (Japan) NATC North American Title Count NATC Nicolet Area Technical College (Wisconsin) ) by a jury in federal district court here yesterday. (Republic Tobacco, L.P. v. North Atlantic Trading Company, Inc., North Atlantic Operating Company operating company A business that engages in transactions with outsiders. , Inc. and National Tobacco Co., L.P., Case No. 98 C 4011) "This verdict sends a powerful message that false, defamatory statements about a competitor's programs are not acceptable business conduct," said Republic Tobacco Chairman Don Levin. In 1998, Republic Tobacco, a company that manufactures and sells such brand names as Top, Drum and JOB, offered incentive and trade programs to its wholesale and retail customers. The Court had previously ruled that NATC, the company that distributes Zig-Zag brand tobacco and cigarette papers, made false and disparaging dis·par·age tr.v. dis·par·aged, dis·par·ag·ing, dis·par·ag·es 1. To speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; belittle. See Synonyms at decry. 2. To reduce in esteem or rank. remarks about these programs and other practices. The jury assessed damages because these remarks damaged Republic's reputation in the industry. A jury in Chicago awarded Republic $8.4 million in compensatory damages A sum of money awarded in a civil action by a court to indemnify a person for the particular loss, detriment, or injury suffered as a result of the unlawful conduct of another. and $10.2 million in punitive damages Monetary compensation awarded to an injured party that goes beyond that which is necessary to compensate the individual for losses and that is intended to punish the wrongdoer. . The case is pending before the Hon. John F. Grady of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois The United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the following counties, divided into two divisions: . Lead attorneys for Republic are Charles S. Bergen and Lynn H. Murray who are partners at the Chicago-based law firm of Grippo & Elden. "This verdict should serve not only to compensate Republic for the harm to its reputation, but should also deter those who would seek to unfairly compete through defamation of their competitors," said Bergen. About Republic: Republic Tobacco, which was founded in 1972, is part of a group of companies that manufacture and sell leading roll your own tobacco brands TOP and Drum in the United States, as well as JOB, TOP and French Light cigarette papers, and a full range of accessories, novelty and gift items. About Grippo & Elden: Grippo & Elden is a Chicago-based law firm specializing in complex, high stakes commercial litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. for major U.S. companies, including many of the Fortune 1000. Grippo & Elden offers a diverse litigation practice and has significant expertise in a variety of areas, including complex breach of contract and fraud, antitrust, intellectual property, insurance coverage, sports law The laws, regulations, and judicial decisions that govern sports and athletes. Sports law is an amalgam of laws that apply to athletes and the sports they play. It is not a single legal topic with generally applicable principles. , employment and labor, and Internet, software and technology litigation. The firm has handled a number of high-profile cases in each of these areas. Grippo & Elden handles and wins these cases despite the fact that it is smaller (about 40 lawyers) than the vast majority of firms practicing complex litigation. The firm's size allows it to litigate cases with a level of efficiency, client service and creativity that cannot be rivaled by larger firms. Moreover, the firm prides itself on being a firm of trial lawyers: Each of Grippo & Elden's litigation partners and many of the firm's associates have significant trial experience. For more information, call 312-704-7700, or visit www.grippoelden.com. |
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