The trust is seeking damages for death and disease associated with the combination of asbestos and cigarettes.

Trust attorney Ed Westbrook said for decades the tobacco industry had hidden and distorted scientific findings that indicated asbestos workers who smoked were five times more likely to get lung disease than the average smoker. But lawyers for Big Tobacco argued that the trust is trying to shift blame and costly liabilities from a bankrupt asbestos manufacturer to cigarette makers.

Thomas Schroeder, an attorney for R.J. Reynolds, stated that the asbestos manufacturer had a history of deceiving workers about health risks.

The civil fraud case could result in damages exceeding $3 billion.

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