Three New York State prison inmates sued prison officials for violating their Eighth Amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment by exposing them to unreasonably dangerous levels of secondhand smoke. The court ruled that the prisoners’ lawsuit could continue because a fact-finder could conclude that the inmates were exposed to unreasonably high levels of secondhand smoke. Additionally, the court said that a rational fact-finder could conclude that prison officials were on notice as to the dangers of secondhand smoke based on information such as the U.S. Surgeon General’s 1986 report. The court also found that the prison officials were not eligible for qualified immunity because their conduct could be seen to have violated clearly established rights.
An individual or organization may seek civil damages against a tobacco company based on the claim that the use of tobacco products causes disease or death. Some of these cases will relate to general tobacco products, while others will relate to specific subcategories of tobacco products--for example, light or low products, menthol or other flavored products. Additionally, there may be cases relating to exposure to secondhand smoke.
An individual or organization may sue their own government in order to advance or protect the public interest. For example, an NGO may sue the government claiming the government’s weak tobacco control laws violated their constitutional right to health.
Three New York State prison inmates sued prison officials for violating their Eighth Amendment rights against cruel and unusual punishment by exposing them to unreasonably dangerous levels of secondhand smoke. The court ruled that the prisoners’ lawsuit could continue because a fact-finder could conclude that the inmates were exposed to unreasonably high levels of secondhand smoke. Additionally, the court said that a rational fact-finder could conclude that prison officials were on notice as to the dangers of secondhand smoke based on information such as the U.S. Surgeon General’s 1986 report. The court also found that the prison officials were not eligible for qualified immunity because their conduct could be seen to have violated clearly established rights.