The Department of Justice asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday for permission to seek as much as $280 billion from the tobacco industry.

DOJ lawyers are seeking to overturn a D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals decision that limited the amount the government can seek from the companies for allegedly misleading the public about the health risks of smoking. The court had ruled that the companies can't be forced to give up past profits.

The decision had prompted the government to seek $14 billion from the industry rather than the higher amount. The move brought widespread criticism from health advocates and complaints by Democrats.

Get the Story:
Justice Dept. Seeks to Pursue Tobacco Profits (The Washington Post 7/19)
pwpwd
U.S. Seeks Higher Damages in Tobacco Industry Suit (The New York Times 7/19)
pwnyt

Relevant Links:
Tobacco Litigation - http://www.usdoj.gov/civil/cases/tobacco2

Related Stories:
Justice Department seeks $14B in tobacco case (06/28)
Judge holds settlement talks in tobacco industry case (6/21)
DOJ pressured witness in tobacco industry case (6/20)
DOJ lawyers worried about politics in tobacco case (6/16)
Brief in tobacco case argued for tough penalties (6/15)
DOJ to probe change of tactics in tobacco case (6/14)
DOJ changes tactics again in tobacco industry case (6/10)
DOJ defends seeking $10B in tobacco industry case (6/9)
U.S. seeks $10B, instead of $130B, in tobacco case (6/8)
Surgeon General testifies in U.S. tobacco case (05/04)
Cancer among Minnesota Indians extremely high (04/20)
Kansas study shows disparities in minority health (04/14)
Effort seeks to reduce smoking among Natives (11/19)
HHS institutes tobacco-free policy at buildings (11/12)
Chippewa Cree Tribe to unveil anti-smoking campaign (08/03)
Alaska Natives combat tobacco use among young, old (06/28)
CDC: Smoking rates highest among Native Americans (02/02)
Survey finds high-risk behaviors among BIA students (11/13)
Smoking rates among Natives highest in nation (10/10)
Study links childhood experience to alcohol abuse (09/19)
Indian Country tops drug report again (9/17)
Native youth top drug use survey again (09/06)
Native youth targeted in anti-drug ads (5/17)
Native youth heaviest smokers in nation (4/3)
Report: Native youth highest drug users (10/5)
Tribal tobacco challenges dismissed (9/5)
CDC: Indian mothers heaviest smokers (8/29)
Tribal challenge to big tobacco dismissed (7/17)
Report: Native women heaviest smokers (3/28)
Smoking in Indian Country (3/28)
Ad campaign targets youth drug use (9/7)
Drug use high among Native youth (9/1)