Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health v. Entertainment Industry Coalition (2005)
The legal issue in this case is whether a local ordinance prohibiting smoking in most indoor public places was preempted by a state “clean indoor air” statute.
Litigation is an important tool to defend and advance public health policy. This tracker provides information and official court documents from select lawsuits within the focus areas of the Public Health Law Center, including commercial tobacco control and healthy eating. Some cases are relevant to cross-cutting issues that affect public health, such as preemption and First Amendment considerations. The Public Health Law Center has supported public health goals as an amicus curiae, or friend-of-the-court, by filing briefs (included here) with relevant information that the court may choose to consider. You can read more about the Function and Role of Amicus Briefs in Public Health Litigation.
American Cancer Society v. State of Montana (2004)
The legal issue in this case is whether a Montana law barring smoke-free prohibitions in business establishments with permits for video gambling machines is valid under the Montana Constitution.
Lexington-Fayette County Food and Beverage Association v. Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government (2004)
The legal issue in this case is whether a county ordinance prohibiting smoking in most enclosed areas open to the public was valid.
JTR Colebrook v. Town of Colebrook (2003)
The legal issue in this case is whether a state law preempted a municipal smoke-free ordinance.