Long Island law firm honored on 25th anniversary of settlement that killed tobacco advertising nationwide

Nassau County celebrated the 25th anniversary of a local law firm’s historic win that killed tobacco advertising, secured billions in healthcare settlements, and funded anti-smoking initiatives that led to a major drop in young users. 

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman presented the attorneys of Sullivan Papain law firm in Garden City with a citation Wednesday, recognizing their win against big tobacco and the $25 billion state settlement for New York the firm secured in 1998. 

“When the United States congress tried to stop tobacco, they couldn’t do it — the lawyers brought them down — and that’s my proudest moment,” attorney Bob Sullivan, who helped secure the settlement, told reporters inside the firm. 

Blakeman, who kicked the habit roughly 35 years ago, said that the settlement brought about $200 million to Nassau County that has been used to fund health initiatives and address public concerns created by tobacco use.

“The funds that were received in this settlement were going toward, and have been going toward, making our county a healthier place,” said Blakeman.

“It was a great reason to bring this litigation because so many people were harmed and injured and, quite frankly, killed from tobacco use.”

And the attorneys believe they could have gotten more out of the tobacco companies, but took a cut in settlement pay to trade for a clause they found invaluable — the death of tobacco advertising. 

Sullivan and his team showed old advertisements dating from the 1980s and prior, depicting imagery they said made smoking seem cool, which drew in children who would smoke thinking it would upgrade their social status among young peers. 

“When we negotiated this settlement, we probably could have secured a little bit more money — had we not held firm on them having to stop advertising — you can’t count the number that have been saved,” attorney Nick Papain, who also helped secure the settlement said.