v3.24.0.1
Contingencies: (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
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 December 31, 2023, December 31, 2022 and December 31, 2021:
Type of Case1
Number of Cases Pending as of December 31, 2023Number of Cases Pending as of December 31, 2022Number of Cases Pending as of December 31, 2021
Individual Smoking and Health Cases454040
Smoking and Health Class Actions999
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions171717
Label-Related Class Actions———
Individual Label-Related Cases463
Public Civil Actions111
Schedule of Verdicts and Post Trial Developments
The table below lists the verdict and significant post-trial developments in the five pending cases where a verdict was returned in favor of the plaintiff:

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 $11.5 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 $2.3 billion)). The trial court awarded CAD 90,000 (approximately $67,000) in punitive damages, allocating CAD 30,000 (approximately $22,000) to our subsidiary. The trial court ordered defendants to pay CAD 1 billion (approximately $740 million) of the compensatory damage award, CAD 200 million (approximately $148 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 $97 million) in punitive damages, allocating CAD 46 million (approximately $34 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 $133), 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 May 17, 2021, plaintiff filed a federal extraordinary appeal. On November 1, 2021, the Supreme Court of the Province of Buenos Aires dismissed plaintiff's federal extraordinary appeal. On November 10, 2021, plaintiff filed a direct appeal before the Federal Supreme Court.
Date  Location of
Court/Name of
Plaintiff		  Type of
Case		  Verdict  Post-Trial
Developments
June 17, 2021Argentina/Claudia MilanoIndividual Action
On June 17, 2021, the Civil Court No. 9 - Mar del Plata, issued a verdict in favor of plaintiff, an individual smoker, and awarded her smoking cessation treatments, ARS 150,000 (approximately $181), in compensatory and moral damages, and ARS 4,000,000 (approximately $4,825) in punitive damages, plus interest and costs. The trial court found that our subsidiary failed to warn plaintiff of the risk of becoming addicted to cigarettes.
On July 2, 2021, our subsidiary filed its notice of appeal. In addition, plaintiff filed an appeal challenging the dismissal of the claim for psychological damages. As required by local law, our subsidiary deposited the damages awarded, plus interest and costs, in total ARS 6,114,428 (approximately $7,375), into a court escrow account. Our subsidiary challenged the amount determined by the court. The Civil and Commercial Court of Appeals of Mar del Plata granted our subsidiary's challenge to the escrow amount determined by the trial court. As a result, on December 16, 2021, ARS 893,428 (approximately $1,078) was returned to our subsidiary. If our subsidiary ultimately prevails, the remaining deposited amounts will be returned to our subsidiary. On May 31, 2022, the Civil and Commercial Court of Appeals of Mar del Plata ruled that the statute of limitations barred plaintiff's claim and reversed the trial court's decision. On June 15, 2022, plaintiff filed an extraordinary appeal.


Date  Location of
Court/Name of
Plaintiff		  Type of
Case		  Verdict  Post-Trial
Developments
June 23, 2023Turkey/ Senem YilmazelIndividual Action
On June 23, 2023, the Ankara Consumer Court published its decision in favor of plaintiff, the daughter of an individual smoker, against our subsidiary and a BAT subsidiary, awarding her TRY 10,000 (approximately $327) in damages. The trial court found that the plaintiff’s father died as a result of lung cancer and COPD caused by his cigarette consumption.
On September 8, 2023, our subsidiary filed its appeal. On September 25, 2023, the plaintiff filed an appeal challenging the damages amount determined by the court.