Lockyer Alleges Violation of Tobacco Settlement
Attorney General Bill Lockyer (D) on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against UST, the maker of Skoal chewing tobacco, alleging that the company violated a 1998 settlement agreement by advertising its products at drag races where children were present, Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times reports.
Lockyer said Skoal's sponsorship of two National Hot Rod Association meets violated a national settlement of tobacco litigation, which bans the use of tobacco products in sponsorship of events involving children younger than age 18.
According to the lawsuit, children at the meet were as young as nine years old.
The suit seeks unspecified damages (Bloomberg/Los Angeles Times, 7/28).