THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 13, 1995 TAG: 9505130301
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
Lawyers for ABC asked a judge Friday to give them access to more internal memos and research from Philip Morris Cos. Inc., arguing that the documents may prove the cigarette maker's libel lawsuit groundless.
The request is part of a huge discovery effort by ABC, which is accused of falsely and recklessly reporting that Philip Morris and other major American tobacco companies spike cigarettes with extra nicotine to hook smokers.
Philip Morris, the Richmond area's largest employer, filed a $10 billion lawsuit against ABC's parent company, Capital Cities/ABC Inc., after the February 1994 ``Day One'' broadcast. The trial was to begin Sept. 18, but has been pushed back to Oct. 9.
Roger M. Witten, an attorney for ABC, told Richmond Circuit Judge Theodore J. Markow that the network should be allowed to review any draft reports, memos and other documents relating to the cigarette maker's nicotine research.
KEYWORDS: LAWSUIT by CNB