Cigarette Makers Absolved

Six in 10 Reject Liability for Tobacco Companies

In a new ABCNEWS.com poll, six out of 10 people said tobacco companies should not be financially liable to smokers who become ill as a result of their habit.

By Daniel Merkle, ABCNEWS.com

Nov. 3 While tobacco companies fend off a barrage of lawsuits claiming damages for smoking-related illnesses, theyre getting a break in at least one venue: The court of public opinion.

In a new ABCNEWS.com poll, Americans by almost 2-1 say the tobacco companies should not be held financially responsible for illnesses caused by smoking. Sixty percent dont think the companies should have to pay damages for smoking-related illnesses; 34 percent say they should.

Matches Earlier Poll Finding

That finding corresponds with another ABCNEWS poll, conducted two years ago, in which 72 percent felt that responsibility for health problems rested with smokers, for smoking, rather than with the tobacco companies, for making and marketing the smokes.

Given courtroom evidence, some jurors have seen it differently. A Florida jury currently is deliberating the amount of punitive damages tobacco companies owe Florida smokers with smoking-related illnesses. Speculation has run as high as $300 billion.

The current poll includes some differences among population groups; support for holding tobacco companies liable for damages is higher among Democrats, younger adults, those with lower incomes and those living in the West. Even so, support does not reach a majority in any population group.

Methodology

This ABCNEWS.com survey was conducted by telephone Oct. 27-31 among a random national sample of 1,010 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Field work was done by ICR-International Communications Research of Media, Pa.