Health · Healthcare & Policy · 19 hrs ago
Quebec tobacco victims seek immediate partial payments
A Quebec class action against tobacco companies began in 1998 on behalf of people with smoking-related lung or throat cancer and emphysema.
In March 2025, a court approved a settlement plan worth 3.4 billion dollars for members of the case.
More than 85,000 people have registered, and each claim requires medical records to be checked with Santé Québec and health facilities.
More than 10,700 claims had been accepted, but many claimants are elderly or seriously ill and have waited years for payment.
Their lawyers have asked the court to pay 50% of approved claims now while the remaining claims are reviewed.
If claimants die before receiving money, extra legal checks on their estates can add further delays.
The court must decide whether to approve the requested interim payments.
Lawyers for Quebec tobacco victims have asked a court to immediately pay 50% of approved claims as interim compensation.
The request comes amid delays in processing claims and checking medical records, while many claimants are elderly or seriously ill.
The class action seeks compensation for people diagnosed with lung cancer, throat cancer or emphysema linked to smoking.
More than 85,000 claims have been submitted, and more than 10,700 had been accepted, according to Le Droit.
A court approved a settlement plan worth 3.4 billion dollars in March 2025.
- Who
- Lawyers for the Quebec tobacco class action and claimants with approved claims.
- What
- The lawyers are seeking immediate interim payments of 50% of approved compensation.
- When
- The request was filed on the Friday before the articles published on October 27 and 28, 2026.
- Where
- Quebec, Canada.
- Why
- Delays in reviewing claims and medical records mean many ill or elderly claimants fear they may die before receiving compensation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Quebec class action was filed.
Quebec’s Superior Court issued an initial judgment ordering tobacco companies to pay more than 15 billion dollars in punitive and moral damages, according to Le Droit.
The court approved a settlement plan providing 3.4 billion dollars in compensation.
Lawyers filed a request for immediate interim payments of 50% to claimants whose claims had been approved.
Radio reports said more than 85,000 claims were open and victims were seeking immediate payments.
- Claims submitted
- More than 85,000
- Claims accepted
- More than 10,700, according to Le Droit
- Interim payment sought
- 50% of approved claims
- Settlement plan
- 3.4 billion dollars
- Class action filed
- 1998
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What people are saying
C'est tellement long à analyser tous les documents, tous les dossiers, que, si on attend la fin, la grande, grande majorité des gens seront décédés, puis on va s'adresser à des successions. On veut que les gens profitent de leur argent de leur vivant.
Depuis ce temps-là, les gens ont vieilli et leurs avocats veulent leur permettre de profiter de leur argent de leur vivant.