Reynolds to Pay Conn. $150,000 Over Camel Ads

Tobacco company R.J. Reynolds will pay the state of Connecticut $150,000 to settle a lawsuit over ads for Camel cigarettes that included cartoon characters.

The Associated Press reported March 26 that Reynolds was sued by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal over the 2007 ads that appeared in Rolling Stone magazine. The lawsuit alleged that the ads violated the 1998 nationwide tobacco settlement between the industry and states.

Reynolds denied that the ads violated the agreement. A spokesperson said the campaign was pulled two years ago and that this week’s settlement was to forestall spending any more time and money on the case.