The Israel Cancer Association (ICA) commends today's Supreme Court ruling which authorizes raising the sum of compensation owing by parties who have not prevented smoking in a public place, such as a club or pub, to a sum of NIS 1,160,000.
The court ruling was issued this afternoon by presiding judges Mrs. Miriam Mr. Naor, Neil Hendel, and Mr. Zvi Zilberthal, after court proceedings held on May 20, 2013.
The case involved a Tel Aviv based club "Bella Shlomkins" which did not prevent (illegal) smoking on its premises, despite the protestations of three club frequenters.
The class-action lawsuit was filed against the club and its administration in 2008 by three of the club's frequenters: Mr. Mark Litvin, Ms. Yelena Litvin and Mr. Maxim Tutunik, through their attorney, Mr. Amos Hausner.
Following the plaintiffs' appeal regarding the compensation amount ruled by the District Court, Israel's Supreme Court decided to increase the compensation sum to be transferred to the ICA to treat and prevent lung cancer, according to the number of frequenters on the premises, multiplied by NIS 1,000 per frequenter.
The owners and administration were also charged an additional personal compensation to be paid to the plaintiffs themselves.
The ICA hopes that the court decision will deter owners of public places where the prohibition against smoking has not been enforced (from permitting smoking on the premises).
Similarly, the ICA thanks the court system, both the district courts and the Israeli Supreme Court, for this important decision. The ICA further adds that, once received, such a sum will help reinforce the organization's broad-based and longtime efforts to prevent smoking, the leading preventable cause of death.