NYC touts legal win over Big Tobacco

CELESTE KATZ

The city Law Department is claiming a big win over Big Tobacco.

Gotham beat back a federal suit by Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, and Lorillard, which claimed a city ban on the redemption of coupons, multipack discounts on smokes and other measures violated their First Amendment rights and ran afoul of tax law.

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Griesa concluded that the city did not overstep its powers -- which do not extend to the distribution of free tobacco products -- by putting the restrictions on price cuts in place.

"This is a huge victory for the city’s comprehensive efforts to reduce tobacco usage," Law Department Senior Counsel Nicholas Ciappetta said Wednesday.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/nyc-touts-legal-win-big-tobacco-blog-entry-1.1834693