Source: Saudi Gazette Online (sa)
Date: 2010-06-15
Author: Adnan Al-Shabrawi

The General Court here has decided to reopen a case involving a
$10 million (about SR38 million) lawsuit against tobacco agents
in the Kingdom filed by a Saudi man who was afflicted with throat
cancer and lost his ability to speak.

Judiciary sources said that the plaintiff, Ali Asiri, had asked
for the case to be reopened after the court had cancelled the
matter because he had not attended a previous session.

The source said the court decided to reopen the case as per
article 53 of the Pleading System. The court fixed July 11 to
hear the matter.

Saudi Gazette reported this month that the General Court in
Jeddah dismissed the case because Asiri failed to appear.

Sources said that Judge Abdul Rahman Al-Husseini followed
procedure in throwing out the case on the grounds that the court
had not been given any reason for his absence. . . .

The Kafa Society for Creating Awareness on the Harm of Smoking
and Drugs, based in Makkah, has supported Asiri.

Asiri joined the Kafa Society to conduct voluntary work to warn
the public about the dangers of smoking cigarettes and using
tobacco derivatives.