A United States federal judge has fined a British tobacco company the equivalent of £15,525 a day for failing to comply with an earlier court order.
Washington District Judge Gladys Kessler ordered BAT Investments Limited to pay the fine, starting from last Friday, until the company complies with an order to turn over documents related to the Justice Department's suit against the cigarette industry.
As of today, 75,000 dollars (£46,575) had been paid, company spokesman David Betteridge said.
The company is owned by British American Tobacco plc, which also owns Kentucky-based Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp - the third-largest US cigarette manufacturer.
The documents sought by the Justice Department allegedly describe efforts to hide the health dangers of cigarettes and touch on evidence destruction.
Betteridge said his company was trying to appeal against Kessler's decision, arguing that the documents sought by the US government were privileged.
The Bush administration inherited the lawsuit from the Clinton administration. The suit seeks to collect damages from tobacco companies for profits allegedly earned through fraudulent practices and to bar the companies from similar future behaviour.
PA