Three tobacco companies have said they would appeal a Canadian court ruling that awarded almost 11 billion euros in damages to Quebec smokers in two related action cases.<br /><br /> Launched in 1998, the case marks the first time tobacco companies have gone to trial in a civil suit in the country. <br /><br /> The director of Quebec Council on Tobacco and Health, an anti-smoking lobby group, Mario Bujold, said it had been “a long process” but it was a “big victory for the victims and against the tobacco companies”.<br /><br /> The court has ordered that the three tobacco companies leave at least 730 million euros in trust with their lawyers. <br /><br /> The wife of one of the original plaintiffs, Lise Blais, asked: “Did you stop to think what a cigarette is? It destroys you – your health is completely destroyed.”<br /><br /> The damages would compensate around 100,000 Quebec smokers and former smokers who alleged tobacco companies knew they were selling a product that was causing health problems but did not adequately warn consumers
