Jim Doyle

Jim Doyle is the former attorney general of Wisconsin, elected governor in 2002.

In 1996, as attorney general, Doyle urged Wisconsin's governor to authorize a lawsuit against the tobacco industry, in which the state would accuse cigarette and smokeless tobacco makers of engaging in a conspiracy to "mislead, deceive and confuse Wisconsin residents about the health affects of tobacco and the addictiveness of nicotine." Doyle said he had enlisted the help of groups like the Wisconsin branch of the American Cancer Society and private law firms to help fund and lend expertise in the litigation, so the lawsuit would not cost Wisconsin taxpayers anything.

While he as attorney general, Doyle also wrote an opinion editorial advocating states' join the Medicaid lawsuits against the tobacco industry, saying tobacco companies had refused to accept responsibility for their actions for decades.

SourceWatch resources

 * Master Settlement Agreement
 * Tobacco industry activity in Wisconsin