Landmark Tobacco Settlement: Quebec Lawyers to Pocket $630M in Fees

Dec.16.2024

Lawyers representing thousands of Quebec residents in two class-action lawsuits against major tobacco manufacturers seek over $9 billion.

According to a report in the National Post on December 14th, lawyers representing tens of thousands of Quebecois in two class action lawsuits against three major tobacco manufacturers will seek fees exceeding $900 million to compensate for their work on this landmark case spanning several decades.

Legal representatives for the class action lawsuit have stated that the court has received the application documents requesting approval to send notices to class action members informing them that the compensation sought involves over 175,000 hours of work.

The day before this action was announced, lawyers stated that the company's creditors, including representatives of the class action plaintiffs, had approved the settlement proposal. The proposal will require several companies to pay a total of 3.25 billion Canadian dollars in compensation.

More than $4 billion CAD has been allocated to the lawsuit plaintiffs, with the requested payment amount from the plaintiffs' lawyers accounting for 22% of this sum.

The proposal announced in October this year also plans for JTI-Macdonald Corporation, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges Inc., and Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. to pay over 24 billion Canadian dollars to provinces and territories in Canada, and over 2.5 billion Canadian dollars to Canadian smokers who did not participate in the lawsuit.

The proposal still requires approval from the court before implementation, and it is expected that a motion for approval of legal fees will be included in the hearing scheduled for the end of January.

The spokesperson stated that the total fees requested by the lawyers in the class action lawsuit amount to $906,180,000 CAD before taxes, including tens of millions of dollars in expenses incurred during the litigation process that began in the late 1990s, as well as fees for managing future claims processes.

Lawyer André Lesperance, representing some Quebec plaintiffs, stated in a declaration that...

The requested fees not only reflect the extraordinary scope of work and results achieved, but also demonstrate the lawyer and their team's unwavering dedication. They tirelessly and actively fought against the Canadian tobacco industry, bearing the costs and risks of litigation without any guarantee of payment. This commitment is purely driven by the pursuit of fair and just compensation for victims and their families.

References:

[1] Lawyers in Quebec class actions seek $906M in fees for work in landmark tobacco case

Also Read:

[1] Philip Morris International and others agree to pay $23.6 billion

#North America #Traditional tobacco #Canada #Regulation

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn

Notice

1. This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2. The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3. This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4. Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

Copyright

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

AI Assistance Disclaimer

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

Special Report | Belarus to centralize vaping market under state supervision

Belarus is preparing to overhaul its vaping market under tight state control — from monopolizing imports to banning online sales and restricting retail licenses. Officials say nearly 77% of the disposable e-cigarette market is supplied illegally, prompting sweeping regulatory measures that have already sparked strong pushback from consumers and vape retailers.

Dec.03

Germany OLG Cologne: Touchscreen Vape Use Violates Driving “Phone Ban”

Germany’s OLG Cologne ruled that adjusting an e-cigarette touchscreen while driving violates the “phone ban” under road traffic law. The driver, caught changing vape settings on the highway, was fined €150 and received one penalty point, as the court said such actions pose significant distraction risks.

Oct.27 by 2FIRSTS.ai

BAT Malaysia Reports Q3 Results: Net Profit Plummets 89.5%, Stock Price Drops 15%

BAT Malaysia's Q3 results show a sharp 89.5% drop in net profit to RM7 million (approximately $150,000 USD), with revenue also falling to RM300 million (approximately $6.4 million USD). The company attributed the decline to new regulatory requirements, including pictorial health warnings and the retail display ban. Its stock dropped 15.25% to RM4.78 (approximately $1.02 USD).

Oct.31 by 2FIRSTS.ai

Exclusive Interview | What’s Changing in Cigars? A Data Firm’s Perspective on the Industry’s Turning Point

As regulations tighten, consumer habits evolve, and new nicotine products reshape the market, the cigar industry is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. In this exclusive interview, 2Firsts speaks with Cigar Sense — a data-driven sensory analysis firm — to explore what’s really changing in cigars, and what it means for manufacturers, retailers, and smokers around the world.