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Contingencies (Tables)
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of Tobacco Related Cases Pertaining to Combustible Products Pending Against Company
The table below lists the number of tobacco-related cases pertaining to combustible products pending against us and/or our subsidiaries or indemnitees as of October 23, 2020, October 22, 2019 and October 23, 2018:¹
Type of CaseNumber of Cases Pending as of October 23, 2020Number of Cases Pending as of October 22, 2019Number of Cases Pending as of October 23, 2018
Individual Smoking and Health Cases434963
Smoking and Health Class Actions91010
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions171716
Label-Related Class Actions——1
Individual Label-Related Cases551
Public Civil Actions222
Schedule of Verdicts and Significant Post Trial Developments Where a Verdict was Returned In Favor of the Plaintiff(s)
The table below lists the verdict and significant post-trial developments in the three pending cases where a verdict was returned in favor of the plaintiff:




______
¹ Includes cases pending in Canada.
Date  Location of
Court/Name of
Plaintiff		  Type of
Case		  Verdict  Post-Trial
Developments
May 27, 2015  Canada/Conseil Québécois Sur Le Tabac Et La Santé and Jean-Yves Blais
  Class Action  
On May 27, 2015, the Superior Court of the District of Montreal, Province of Quebec ruled in favor of the Blais class on liability and found the class members’ compensatory damages totaled approximately CAD 15.5 billion (approximately $11.8 billion), including pre-judgment interest. The trial court awarded compensatory damages on a joint and several liability basis, allocating 20% to our subsidiary (approximately CAD 3.1 billion including pre-judgment interest (approximately $2.4 billion)). The trial court awarded CAD 90,000 (approximately $68,440) in punitive damages, allocating CAD 30,000 (approximately $22,810) to our subsidiary. The trial court ordered defendants to pay CAD 1 billion (approximately $760 million) of the compensatory damage award, CAD 200 million (approximately $152.1 million) of which is our subsidiary’s portion, into a trust within 60 days.
  
In June 2015, RBH commenced the appellate process with the Court of Appeal of Quebec. On March 1, 2019, the Court of Appeal issued a decision largely affirming the trial court's decision. (See “Stayed Litigation — Canada” for further detail.)
Date  Location of
Court/Name of
Plaintiff		  Type of
Case		  Verdict  Post-Trial
Developments
May 27, 2015  Canada/Cecilia Létourneau
  Class Action  
On May 27, 2015, the Superior Court of the District of Montreal, Province of Quebec ruled in favor of the Létourneau class on liability and awarded a total of CAD 131 million (approximately $99.6 million) in punitive damages, allocating CAD 46 million (approximately $35 million) to RBH. The trial court ordered defendants to pay the full punitive damage award into a trust within 60 days. The court did not order the payment of compensatory damages.
  
In June 2015, RBH commenced the appellate process with the Court of Appeal of Quebec. On March 1, 2019, the Court of Appeal issued a decision largely affirming the trial court's decision. (See “Stayed Litigation — Canada” for further detail.)
Date  Location of
Court/Name of
Plaintiff		  Type of
Case		  Verdict  Post-Trial
Developments
August 5, 2016Argentina/Hugo LespadaIndividual Action
On August 5, 2016, the Civil Court No. 14 - Mar del Plata, issued a verdict in favor of plaintiff, an individual smoker, and awarded him ARS 110,000 (approximately $1,414), plus interest, in compensatory and moral damages. The trial court found that our subsidiary failed to warn plaintiff of the risk of becoming addicted to cigarettes.
On August 23, 2016, our subsidiary filed its notice of appeal. On October 31, 2017, the Civil and Commercial Court of Appeals of Mar del Plata ruled that plaintiff's claim was barred by the statute of limitations and it reversed the trial court's decision. On November 28, 2017, plaintiff filed an extraordinary appeal of the reversal of the trial court's decision to the Supreme Court of the Province of Buenos Aires.