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Angelos Enters Cell Safety Suit

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BALTIMORE, Jan. 17, 2001 -- The majority owner of the Baltimore Orioles has jumped into the legal fight over whether cellular telephones cause cancer. Peter G. Angelos filed as co-counsel in an $800 million lawsuit in U.S. District Court charging that a neurologist's brain tumor resulted from his regular use of cell phones.

Angelos brings something to the struggle that has so far been lacking -- deep pockets. He played a major role and earned millions of dollars in successful class action lawsuits against asbestos and tobacco companies.

Angelos recently represented the state of Maryland in a successful suit against cigarette manufacturers, resulting in a $4 billion settlement. His entry into Dr. Christopher Newman's case sends a signal that he sees similar potential in cell phone litigation.

Newman's suit argues that the cellular telephone industry knew of the health hazards posed by radiation emitted from cell phone antennas but failed to protect its consumers. The suit also names two industry associations and accuses them of falsely protraying cell phones as safe.

Angelos' entry follows a setback last month when a judge transferred Newsman's case from Baltimore Circuit Court to federal court. There, a judge dismissed most of the allegations and excused two wireless companies and gave Newman until yesterday to amend his lawsuit by providing more specific allegations.

As the deadline neared, Angelos' firm responded with an 86-page lawsuit detailing Newman's claims and making new allegations of "conspiratorial conduct." The suit charges that researchers first documented health effects from radio-frequency radiation in the 1920s.

Angelos' deep pockets are as important as his expertise, observers said. Successfully litigating a major class-action case can cost many millions of dollars and it can be many years before attorneys recover a penny of their expenses.

"They have the resources to see this through, find the experts and stay in there for the long term," Louis Slesin, editor of Microwave News, told the Baltimore Sun.

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