Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2020
Montana sues tobacco companies over settlement payments
Lawsuit filed
Montana sued tobacco companies, alleging they withheld $43 million in settlement payments owed to the state. The state’s motion alleges that the companies used annual disputes to improperly reduce or delay their payments; these are allegations, not a reported court determination.
Source excerpt
The state of Montana is taking several tobacco companies to court for withholding $43 million in payments owed
The defendant tobacco companies are engaged in a bad faith conspiracy to improperly reduce every annual payment obligation to Montana due under the (Master Settlement Agreement).
The states settled with 60 companies, including Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, and Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp.
2019
Thai court fines Philip Morris Thailand
Fine or penalty
A Thai court found Philip Morris Thailand guilty of evading taxes by under-declaring the value of imported cigarettes and ordered it to pay a fine of 1.2 billion baht ($39.7 million).
Source excerpt
The Criminal Court found Philip Morris Thailand as a company guilty but acquitted seven employees for lack of evidence they were responsible. The company said it would appeal the ruling.
BANGKOK (AP) — A court in Thailand on Friday found the local unit of tobacco giant Philip Morris guilty of evading taxes by under-declaring the value of cigarettes it imported from the Philippines. It ordered the company to pay a fine of 1.2 billion baht ($39.7 million).
1960
Racially targeted tobacco marketing
The brand's history sits within the tobacco industry's expansion of advertising and sponsorship directed at Black communities, including promotion of menthol products. Historians and public-health researchers have criticized these practices for exploiting racial disparities and contributing to unequal tobacco-related health outcomes.