Vic: Lawyers acting for tobacco giant under DPP investigation

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-2006
Vic: Lawyers acting for tobacco giant under DPP investigation

Lawyers acting for British American Tobacco in the case against ROLAH McCABE are facing
claims of criminal conduct.

Mrs MCCABE launched legal action against BAT in 2001 .. over her addiction to smoking
and battle with lung cancer .. but she died before the case concluded.

BAT's defence was originally struck out on the grounds that it unlawfully destroyed
evidence on the advice of Clayton Utz .. the law firm acting for BAT in the case.

The ruling was overturned on appeal in December, 2002.

Claims have now emerged against former senior partners of Clayton Utz .. RICHARD TRAVERS
and GLENN EGGLETON.

Victorian Attorney-General ROB HULLS has referred the allegations to the Victorian
Department of Public Prosecutions for investigation.

Health authorities have welcomed the news of the DPP investigation.

AAP RTV mi/xlc/jm/ibw

KEYWORD: TOBACCO (MELBOURNE)

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