From: brewnoserii@gmail.com   
      
   Then maybe it should be allowed to go under scrutiny of bankruptcy laws and go   
   out of business, eh?   
   ___________________________   
   montreal.ctvnews.ca - Thursday, July 9, 2015   
      
   Big tobacco says it can't afford to pay Quebecers billions   
      
   Three major cigarette companies were back in court Thursday, beginning the   
   appeal process for the historic $15-billion payout for Quebec smoking victims.   
      
   When the judgment came down, the judge ordered that the tobacco companies pay   
   a $1 billion immediately to the victims, people who believed the fake   
   scientific arguments brought forward over a quarter of a century ago by those   
   companies that suggested    
   smoking wasn't as dangerous for your health as most scientists had claimed it   
   was.   
      
   Among other things, the tobacco companies say they're unable to pay that   
   money, and that even paying a portion of that amount could push them to the   
   brink of bankruptcy.   
      
   Related Stories   
       Judge awards $15 billion to Quebec smokers   
       Plaintiffs feel vindicated by $15B tobacco judgment   
      
   The tobacco companies argue that in the event they win their appeal, they   
   wouldn't be able to recoup the $1 billion they've been ordered to shell out.    
   The appeal process could last years.   
      
   The three firms are supposed to split the $15.6 billion payment according to a   
   responsibly set out by the court -- 67 per cent for Imperial Tobacco ($10.5   
   billion), 20 per cent for Rothmans, Benson & Hedges ($3.1 billion) and 13 per   
   cent for JTI-   
   Macdonald ($2 billion).   
      
   Anti-tobacco activists were also present at the Thursday hearing, and tore   
   apart the arguments from big tobacco.   
      
   The panel of three judges may hand down their ruling as early as next week,   
   since the 60-day deadline for that initial payment is approaching.   
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   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)