WASHINGTON — The Justice Department plans to ask a federal judge to make public the proposed statements the government wants tobacco companies to publish about the dangers of their products. Department spokesman Charles Miller said the agency planned to file the proposed statements in a Washington, D.C., court Thursday, but ran into resistance from cigarette makers about whether the information should be made public now. “It was our ... Jump to full article >>

Altria Group, Inc. (Altria) announced that it has adopted a focused senior officer structure that will enhance the Company’s responsiveness to evolving regulatory and marketplace opportunities and continue to develop future leadership capability for the Company. Michael E. Szymanczyk will remain Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Altria. Reporting to Mr. Szymanczyk will be four business areas, each led by a single executi ... Jump to full article >>

The manufacturer of Skoal and Copenhagen chewing tobacco has agreed to pay $5 million to the family of a North Carolina man who died of cancer in what is thought to be the first wrongful death settlement in a smokeless tobacco case. It was unclear because of the way the settlement was reached what effect it might have on potential litigation against chewing tobacco manufacturers, an industry segment that has been the target of far fewer liabili ... Jump to full article >>

The three biggest tobacco companies in the U.S. have joined two groups representing New York City merchants to challenge a resolution by the New York City Board of Health forcing stores to place graphic anti- tobacco campaign signs where tobacco products are offered. Altria Group (MO) subsidiary Philip Morris USA Inc., Lorillard Inc. (LO), and Reynolds American Inc. (RAI) unit R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. are involved in the lawsuit with two indivi ... Jump to full article >>

Marlboro maker Altria Group Inc. said Wednesday higher prices, gains in its cigarette, smokeless tobacco and wine business and cost cutting led its first-quarter profit to climb 38 percent. The owner of nation’s biggest cigarette maker, Philip Morris USA, also reaffirmed its guidance for the year but said the second quarter will be challenging for income growth. Altria, based in Richmond, Va., said it earned $813 million, or 39 cents per s ... Jump to full article >>

It’s one of the most old-fashioned taxes of all, but the question of what you measure to levy it is emerging as the latest skirmish in the never-ending battle for space on stores’ tobacco shelves. The stakes can be high — a change in the way Texas levied its excise tax on smokeless tobacco has just about driven old-fashioned, loose-leaf chewing tobacco out of the state. Now, in Virginia, the muted clash over the excise tax betw ... Jump to full article >>

NEW YORK — A Credit Suisse analyst downgraded Altria Group Inc. Monday, worried about possibly declining Marlboro prices and the company’s ability to balance profit and market share growth for the cigarette brand. In separate client notes, analyst Thilo Wrede boosted the price targets of peers Lorillard Inc. and Reynolds American ( RAI – news – people ) Inc. Wrede said Altria ( MO – news – people )’s ... Jump to full article >>