The village of Haverstraw Board of Trustees has approved the settlement with the plaintiffs who filed a federal lawsuit against the village, challenging the village’s local law restricting tobacco-product displays in stores.
Under the settlement, the plaintiffs would drop the lawsuit if the village rescinds the law.
The board set a public hearing for Aug. 13 to discuss a new local law to repeal the existing law.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in White Plains by seven tobacco manufacturers — Lorillard Tobacco Co., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Philip Morris USA Inc., Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co., American Snuff Co. LLC, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Brands Inc. and John Middleton Co. — and the New York Association of Convenience Stores.
The plaintiffs argued that the village’s law violated their freedom of speech.
3 Comments
Shame on Big Tobacco for continuing to destroy people’s lives. To be consistent, should we allow crack dealers to advertise their merchandise as well?
That is an ignorant comment. Tobacco is not illegal. Crack is illegal.
This is America, land of the free and home of the brave. People have the right to say, eat, drink and smoke whatever they want, as long as it is legal. Even if its not healthy or politically correct. American citizens are individuals and anyone of legal age can make their own decisions. Many brave young men have died defending our right to live as we wish.
If our government both local and federal really cared about anyone’s health and not tax income there are plenty of ways to educate our citizens, especially our children, to help them make better decisions without limiting our rights.
Reply to Randy P. > The only ignorant (and naive) comment in the above posts are yours. Robert Smith’s comment appears to be in a form of sarcasm.
However, your comment “People have the right to say, eat, drink and smoke whatever they want, as long as it is legal” is misguided. Smoking is not a right of anyone. And society has clearly stated that smoking is harmful, and that it is subject to federal, state and local restrictions, both indoors and outdoors, where it can affect another individual.
I congratulate the Village of Haverstraw for having the insight and courage to pass the initial law to restrict the display of tobacco products sold in the village’s stores. It is unfortunate that the Board of Trustees did not have the wherewithal to proceed against the tobacco racketeers who spare no expense to litigate against any action that will limit their profit over health business plan.
I feel confident that had some benefactor come forward to provide financial support of incurred legal expenses they would have been liable for if they lost, the Village of Haverstraw Board of Trustees would not have voted to rescind their law and proceeded to win a landmark decision against Big Tobacco.
This issue is not over.