United Seniors Association (USA) today announced it has filed a lawsuit against the major American tobacco companies in the United States District Court in Boston, MA, seeking recovery of damages on behalf of the Medicare programme and the treasury of the United States.

The civil suitalleges tobacco companies intentionally concealed, denied and manipulated the addictive properties of their cigarettes. USA seeks to have the firms reimburse Medicare for payments it has made since 1999 to treat diseases caused by cigarette smoking.
The defendants are Philip Morris USA, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, and Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation, individually and as successors to The American Tobacco Company, Lorillard Tobacco Company and Liggett Group. (ci)