R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY et al v. UNITED STATES FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION et al
Filing
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Unopposed MOTION for Leave to File Memorandum in Support of Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment and in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment by AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION NETWORK, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN LEGACY FOUNDATION, AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION, CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO FREE KIDS, PUBLIC CITIZEN (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Memorandum of Amici Curiae, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Beck, Gregory)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO CO., et al.,
Plaintiffs,
No. 1:11-cv-1482 (RJL)
v.
UNITED STATES FOOD AND DRUG
ADMINISTRATION, et al.,
Defendants.
UNOPPOSED MOTION OF AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS, AMERICAN
CANCER SOCIETY, AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY CANCER ACTION
NETWORK, AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN LEGACY
FOUNDATION, AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION, AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION, CAMPAIGN FOR
TOBACCO-FREE KIDS, AND PUBLIC CITIZEN FOR LEAVE TO FILE
MEMORANDUM AS AMICI CURIAE IN SUPPORT OF DEFENDANTS’ MOTION
FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND IN OPPOSITION TO PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION
FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT
Movants American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society, American Cancer
Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Legacy Foundation,
American Lung Association, American Medical Association, American Public Health
Association, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, and Public Citizen hereby move for leave to file
the accompanying memorandum as amici curiae in support of defendants’ motion for summary
judgment and in opposition to plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment.
Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 7(m), counsel for proposed amici curiae has discussed this
motion with counsel for all parties. Counsel for both plaintiff and defendants have consented to
the filing of this motion and to the filing of an amicus curiae memorandum by October 21, 2011.
A copy of the proposed memorandum and a proposed order granting leave to file are attached to
this motion.
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Movants are ten non-profit public health organizations, consumer advocacy groups, and
physicians’ associations that for decades have worked to educate the public about and protect the
public from the devastating health and economic consequences of tobacco use. Amici have broad
knowledge about the history of tobacco regulation and tobacco industry promotional techniques
and are particularly well qualified to assist the Court in understanding the substantial public
interest advanced by the restrictions challenged here.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), founded in 1930, is a national, not-forprofit organization dedicated to furthering the interests of children’s health and the pediatric
specialty. Since its inception, the membership of AAP has grown from the original group of 60
physicians specializing in children’s health to 60,000 primary care physicians, pediatric medical
subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists. Over the past 80 years, AAP has become a
powerful voice for children’s health through education, research, advocacy, and expert advice
and has demonstrated a continuing commitment to working with hospitals and clinics, as well as
with state and federal governments to protect the well-being of America’s children. AAP has
engaged in broad and continuous efforts to prevent harm to the health of children and
adolescents caused by the use of tobacco products and exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.
The American Cancer Society, Inc. (ACS) has more than three million volunteers
nationwide, including 50,000 physicians. The organization works to eliminate cancer as a major
health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer,
through research, education, advocacy, and service. Since its founding in 1913, ACS has
conducted groundbreaking research to identify the use of tobacco products as a major cause of
cancer and worked to educate the public about its deadly effects. The American Cancer Society
Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) is the advocacy affiliate of ACS, helping to educate
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government officials on public policies that affect cancer, including critical tobacco control
measures. ACS CAN has nearly half a million grassroots advocates nationwide, many of whom
worked to help pass the FSPTCA.
The American Heart Association (AHA) is a voluntary health organization that, since
1924, has helped to protect people of all ages and ethnicities from the ravages of heart disease
and stroke. AHA is one of the world’s premier health organizations, with local chapters in all 50
states, as well as in Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. AHA invests in research, professional
and public education, and advocacy so people across America can live stronger, longer lives.
AHA has long been active before Congress and regulatory agencies on tobacco and other healthrelated matters and has petitioned the FDA on several occasions seeking regulation of cigarette
and other tobacco products under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
The American Legacy Foundation is dedicated to building a world where young people
reject tobacco and anyone can quit. The foundation was established in March 1999 as a result of
the Master Settlement Agreement reached between the attorneys general in 46 states and five
U.S. territories and the tobacco industry. The foundation develops programs that address the
health effects of tobacco use through grants, technical assistance and training, youth activism,
strategic partnerships, counter-marketing and grass roots marketing campaigns, research, public
relations, and outreach to populations disproportionately affected by the toll of tobacco.
The American Lung Association (ALA) is the nation’s oldest voluntary health
organization, with 120,000 volunteers and affiliates in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Because cigarette smoking is a major cause of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, ALA has long been active in research, education, and public policy advocacy on the
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adverse health effects of tobacco products. ALA has advocated for the regulation of tobacco
products for more than two decades.
The American Medical Association (“AMA”), an Illinois non-profit corporation founded
in 1847, is the largest association of physicians and medical students in the United States.
Additionally, through state and specialty medical societies and other physician groups seated in
its House of Delegates, substantially all U.S. physicians, residents and medical students are
represented in the AMA’s policy making process. The objectives of the AMA are to promote the
science and art of medicine and the betterment of public health. The AMA has developed
expertise in the pharmacology of nicotine, the toxic effects of cigarette smoke, and the societal
implications of tobacco usage. For many years, the AMA has been one of the leading antismoking organizations in the United States
The American Public Health Association (APHA) is a national organization devoted to
protecting Americans and their communities from preventable serious health threats. Founded in
1872, APHA is the world’s oldest and most diverse public health organization. APHA represents
a broad array of health providers, educators, environmentalists, policymakers, and health
officials at all levels working both within and outside governmental organizations and
educational institutions. APHA advocates for national tobacco control measures to protect the
public’s health from the adverse effects of tobacco products.
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids works to raise awareness that cigarette smoking is a
public health hazard by advocating public policies to limit the marketing and sales of tobacco to
children, and altering the environment in which tobacco use and policy decisions are made.
Tobacco-Free Kids has more than 100 member organizations, including health, civic, corporate,
youth, and religious groups dedicated to reducing children’s use of tobacco products.
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Public Citizen is a consumer advocacy organization founded in 1971, with approximately
225,000 members and supporters nationwide. Public Citizen has long been active before
Congress, regulatory agencies, and the courts in matters relating to public health in general and
regulation by the Food and Drug Administration in particular. In addition, Public Citizen has
substantial expertise on commercial speech doctrine, as its lawyers argued, among other cases,
Virginia State Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council, Inc., 425 U.S. 748
(1976), the first case in which the United States Supreme Court recognized that commercial
speech is entitled to some level of First Amendment protection.
WHEREFORE, movants respectfully request that this Court grant leave to file as amici
curiae the attached memorandum in support of defendants’ motion for summary judgment and in
opposition to plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment.
October 21, 2011
Respectfully submitted,
/s/Gregory A. Beck
Gregory A. Beck
Allison M. Zieve
Public Citizen Litigation Group
1600 20th Street NW
Washington, DC 20009
202-588-1000
Attorneys for American Academy
of Pediatrics, et al.
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