Eight states filed lawsuits against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco for violating a ban on the use of cartoons in a cigarette advertisement.

The lawsuits follow a national advertising campaign for Camel brand cigarettes in Rolling Stone magazine, published in November, which featured cartoon images with Camel’s name and logo.
California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania filed lawsuits. Washington attorney general Rob McKenna filed a motion to ban RJR from using cartoons in its ads and is seeking more than US$ 3.5 million in sanctions and fines while Maryland attorney general Douglas Gansler is seeking US$ 2.5 million. The states are charging that a promotion in an issue of Rolling Stone violates a 1998 agreement not to use cartoons in its marketing efforts.
Under the terms of the 1998 multi-state tobacco settlement cartoons are not to be used in ads. R.J. Reynolds said the section was produced by Rolling Stone and that it had been unaware of the section's style. The lawsuits ask the respective state courts to stop Reynolds from running ads using cartoons, to cease distributing a promotional compact disc associated with the ads and seek monetary civil penalties. (pi)