The Department of Justice asked a federal judge on Monday to force tobacco companies to pay $14 billion for alleged fraud.

Of the amount, $10 billion would be used for cessation programs and $4 billion would be used for an anti-smoking campaign.

The figure is down from the $280 billion suggested at the onset of the case. Bush administration lawyers subsequently went down to $130 billion then to $10 billion, citing a recent federal appeals court ruling.

The change in tactics has prompted an investigation and criticism of the administration.

Get the Story:
Govt seeks $14 bln in tobacco racketeering case (Reuters 6/28)
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Relevant Links:
Tobacco Litigation - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/tobacco2

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