Deskiewicz

Al Deskiewicz was a 51 year old Kirkland, Washington design engineer who brought a small claims action against Philip Morris in Washington state in 1993 to try and recoup $1,572 in costs he incurred consulting a doctor and buying nicotine patches to quit smoking after 34 years of smoking mostly Marlboros. He argued that Philip Morris knew nicotine was addictive and had a duty to warn consumers. Philip Morris based its defense on the 1964 Surgeon Generals report that said nicotine is not addictive in part because it does not induce intoxication or life-threatening withdrawal symptons. Desckiewicz lost the case.