NEXT UP: Vector CEO Bennett LeBow
February 7, 2005 9:08 am by Gene BorioUnder questioning by DOJ lawyer Frank Marine, Mr. LeBow seems to be stepping back from the more industry-hostile statements he has made previously.
Asked if he could reference the documents which led him to harsh criticisms of the industry in trials and statements 1996-2002, he said he had only seen maybe 10 documents–documents which he or his lawyers apparently picked at random out of thousands–and that it would be virtually impossible to find those exact same documents today.
In his Written Direct Testimony, LeBow professed utter lack of knowledge of what Liggett had done pre-1986, when he became involved. But Mr. Marine showed that in previous testimony he had indeed made statements about Liggett’s actions.
Mr. LeBow seemed to indicate he was just saying what his lawyers wanted him to say.
In addition, much time has passed, and he has either forgotten specifics or his views have changed. He said at one point, “my views on lung cancer have changed.” He feels now that causation of lung cancer by smoking has been “proven by the epidemiological view,” and he believes causation will be proven in the future by other methods–but that for now, “I’m hesitating on the direct link.”