"Tobacco firms in move to strike out Malawi exploitation case", 19 May 2020

Two of the world’s biggest tobacco companies are to ask the high court in London on Wednesday to strike out a case against them alleging the exploitation of Malawian farmers and their children as a result of their drive for profits.

British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands, both based in the UK, deny the allegations. They are asking that the case be dismissed on the grounds that lawyers for the farming families cannot prove the tobacco they grew ended up in their cigarettes and other products.

The watershed case was brought after investigations by the Guardian into child labour in the tobacco fields. Families are trafficked from southern Malawi, allege Leigh Day solicitors, their lawyers, to tobacco-growing regions in the north.

... A spokesman for Imperial said: “It would be inappropriate to comment on this ongoing litigation, other than to reiterate that we will defend the claim.”

A BAT spokesperson said: “BAT believes that there is no legal or factual basis to bring these claims, therefore BAT has made an application for the claims to be struck out or stayed.

“We are unable to provide further comment ahead of the hearing.”

Martyn Day, senior partner at Leigh Day, said: “The heart of the claim is that two of the largest tobacco companies in the world cynically exploited impoverished tobacco farmers from Malawi and their children.

“Fortunately the two defendant companies are based here in Britain giving our courts jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims.” He said he was optimistic the judge would allow the claims to progress toward a full trial.