In brief: Leigh Day & Co takes on tobacco action

Leigh Day & Co is taking up the cases of 40 lung-cancer victims on a "no win, no fee" basis, following the Legal Aid Board's refusal to provide legal aid in July. In Britain's first group action funded by a conditional fee arrangement, the victims seek to sue two tobacco firms - Imperial Tobacco and Gallahers - alleging failure to comply with their duty to minimise risk by reducing tar when it emerged that tar contributed to causing cancer. Martyn Day, joint senior partner at the firm, said he estimated that his legal team - including Dan Brennan QC, president of the Personal Injury Bar Association, and Professor Mark Mildred, of Nottingham Law School - stood to lose about £3m in fees if the claims failed.