After a protracted legal journey spanning nearly 30 years, a Canadian court has approved a CA$32.5 billion settlement in a high-profile litigation involving pivotal tobacco companies. This monumental agreement addresses compensation claims for both former smokers and governmental healthcare expenditures. The decision, announced on March 6 by Chief Justice of the Ontario Superior Court Geoffrey Morawetz, marks the largest settlement of its kind in Canadian history and the third-largest globally.
The case focused on claims against JTI-Macdonald Corp., Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, and Imperial Tobacco Canada Ltd. and saw participation from some of Canada’s most prominent law firms. Acknowledging the prolonged nature of the proceedings, Michael Eizenga, a senior partner and co-chair of the class actions group at Bennett Jones, expressed emotional relief upon reaching this resolution after 20 years of work across two law firms. This settlement concludes a significant chapter in Canadian legal history.