Brown & Williamson wins Mash: Individual Smoker Suit in Missouri

Brown & Williamson wins Mash: Individual Smoker Suit in Missouri



WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., Sept. 30  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In the first
individual smoker case to be tried since the merger of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco
Company and the U.S. tobacco business of Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation
(B&W), a Missouri jury today returned a verdict in favor of B&W. The jury
concluded that B&W was not responsible for the illness of Stella Hale, a smoker
who died allegedly from lung cancer caused by smoking the company's products.

The jury unanimously agreed with B&W that there was ample evidence that Ms.
Hale had long been aware of the potential health risks of smoking, and that
she, nevertheless, chose to smoke.

"This verdict showed that the jury thought that people who choose to smoke in
the face of these known risks should not be financially rewarded," said Jeff
Raborn, senior counsel for R.J. Reynolds.

"The verdict also confirms yet again the strength of the defenses in individual
lawsuits," Raborn said. "The jury evaluated all of the evidence in this case
and concluded that the plaintiffs' claims lacked merit. "The trial was held in
the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri in St.
Louis.  The case was filed by Tracey A. Mash and Anjanetta Lingard on March 6,
2003, in state court in Missouri.  It was later removed to federal court. The
plaintiffs are the daughters of Stella Hale.

This is the only individual smoking and health case to go to trial against
either B&W or R.J. Reynolds this year.

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (RJRT) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of
Reynolds American Inc. (NYSE:RAI).  R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company is the
second-largest tobacco company in the United States, manufacturing about one of
every three cigarettes sold in the United States. Reynolds Tobacco's product
line includes five of the nation's 10 best-selling cigarette brands:  Camel,
Winston, KOOL, Salem and Doral.  For more information about RJRT, visit the
company's Web site at http://www.rjrt.com/ . 

DATASOURCE: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company



CONTACT:  Ellen Wallace of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company,

[phone]



Web site:  http://www.rjrt.com/ 

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