Japan court rejects tobacco lawsuit, notes health dangers but refuses to award damages - Health- msnbc.com

Japan court rejects tobacco lawsuit, notes health dangers but refuses to award damages - Health- msnbc.com

TOKYO - A five-year legal battle against Japan Tobacco by two former smokers and a widow has ended with damage demands thrown out, but a Japanese court for the first time clearly acknowledged the health risks of cigarettes.

The Yokohama District Court ruled Wednesday there was a link between smoking and lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses, and that smoking may be addictive.

But it rejected the plaintiffs' demand, filed in January 2005, for 30 million yen ($330,000) in damages, saying they smoked of their own will and there was no proof smoking had caused their sickness.