Giuli Chkhaidze, injured by tobacco industry in Georgia, requests compensation of 500 000 GEL from “OJT, Ltd”, producer of L&M Cigarettes in Georgia.
According to Zaza Khatiashvili, the lawyer of Chkhaidze, he accuses the producer company for having breached the Law of Georgia on Consumer’s Rights. According to the lawyer, producer made warning inscription on the box only for pregnant women which ignored the rights of other consumers.
“Giuli Chkhaidze, who was smoking cigarette L&M for years, made an operation short time ago. The doctor advised to quit smoking, but he was addicted to nicotine and could not quit”, said Khatiashvili.
According to the attorney, if there were a warning on the box – smoking causes addiction, the consumer would not have been in such conditions.
The lawyer said the victim has already appealed to the court and first trial is scheduled on October 27, 2009.
“This will be unprecedented process; it is first time when court discusses this type of appeal in Georgia”, said Khatiashvili and added that this fact warns other cigarette-producers to protect rights of consumers; they should write warnings to all possible output of smoking.”The law obliges them to do it”, said the lawyer.
Zaza Khatiashvili and the Alliance of Tobacco Monitoring will hold a press-conference about the issue today at 2:00 pm.
Source: Interpressnews