JEDDAH, 26 July — A Saudi hospital yesterday denied reports that it was seeking an out-of-court settlement with international tobacco companies over a multi-billion dollar lawsuit for damages filed by it in the United States.
According to reports quoting a law office representing the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, the hospital and representatives of tobacco firms were to meet in a European country to discuss a settlement. The meeting was originally sought by the tobacco companies, the reports said.
In a statement sent to Arab News, KFSH denied that any suit had been filed or discussions initiated regarding a settlement.
“We wish to be clear that there has been no lawsuits filed in the United States or elsewhere and that there are no discussions concerning a settlement or payment,” said the statement signed by Dr. Anwar Jabarti, the hospital’s executive director.
Dr. Jabarti said the statement had been issued “to correct news reports that a lawsuit has been filed in the US against the tobacco industry and that there are settlement discussions going on”.
Earlier reports suggested that the hospital had filed lawsuits in the US against the tobacco companies seeking $15 billion in compensation for treatment of smoking-related diseases during the past 25 years.
