31st May 2005 10:19
Imperial Tobacco Group PLC31 May 2005 May 31, 2005 McTEAR CLAIM AGAINST IMPERIAL TOBACCO FAILS Lord Nimmo Smith, sitting in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, today dismissedthe McTear tobacco litigation claim against Imperial Tobacco, stating: "thePursuer's case fails on every issue". In response to the judgment, the Company said: "We are pleased but not surprised at the judge's decision to dismiss the McTearclaim. "We regret that we have had to defend ourselves against what we always believedto be a speculative claim, brought by a claimant who had been refused legal aidon four separate occasions. "We have never lost or settled any tobacco litigation and will continue todefend ourselves robustly against any further speculative claims." Enquiries Alex Parsons Nicola TateGroup Media Relations Manager Investor Relations Manager0117 933 7241 0117 933 7082 Simon Evans John Nelson-SmithGroup Media Relations Executive Investor Relations Manager0117 933 7375 0117 933 7032 Notes to editors Alfred McTear commenced the action against Imperial Tobacco in January 1993 inthe Court of Session, Edinburgh. His wife Margaret McTear formally took over asthe claimant in December 1993. The trial began on October 7, 2003. Final submissions were completed on February20, 2004. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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