Tobacco giants went to the High Court yesterday to file a case against the government that could become the biggest corporate damages claim in legal history.
Philip Morris International (PMI) and British American Tobacco issued proceedings over the proposed ban on branded cigarette packaging.
Their lawyers argue that the move, to take effect next year, robs them of their trademarks and amounts to a “deprivation of property” and breach of UK, EU and international laws.
Imperial Tobacco and Japan Tobacco International have also threatened legal action.
Mark Firestone, the PMI senior vice-president and general counsel, said: “We respect the government’s authority to regulate in the public interest but wiping out trademarks simply goes too far. Countries around the world have shown that effective tobacco control