Suit Says Industry Fixed Cigarette Prices

Wed., Feb. 9, 2000

A pair of cigarette wholesalers filed an antitrust lawsuit Tuesday accusing cigarette makers of illegally fixing prices since the 1980s.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, asserts that the major U.S. cigarette manufacturers met secretly to make illegal agreements on wholesale prices.

The suit was brought on behalf of cigarette wholesalers in Buffalo, N.Y., and Bryan, Texas. It seeks class action status, meaning their lawyers are asking to represent all distributors hurt by the alleged price-fixing.

The suit, which seeks triple-damages for the wholesalers, alleges that the major tobacco companies fixed prices at meetings of a group of company lawyers who periodically discussed industry issues together.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Suit Says Industry Fixed Cigarette Prices

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Updated: Barney Frank, influential congressman and gay rights hero, dies at 86

Updated: $8.4M worth of cocaine found on truck carrying Kim Kardashian's Skims

Updated: Screens would be banned until 2nd grade under draft LAUSD plan