Vodafone dismisses talk of damages

Mobile phone giant Vodafone yesterday dismissed reports that it could face multibillion-dollar compensation payouts from planned court actions by brain tumour sufferers in the United States.

US lawyer Peter Angelos, who recently helped win $10.5 million in damages from the American tobacco industry, is reportedly about to launch a series of cases examining links between radiation from mobile phones and brain cancers.

Vodafone's joint venture with Bell Atlantic, Verizon Wireless, is said to be named in nearly all the lawsuits.

Vodafone's stock value tumbled by 2 per cent in London on the news, but the company said that despite its 45 per cent stake in Verizon, it would not be liable to foot the bill, even if damages were awarded.

Vodafone said it did not trade in the states where the lawsuits were planned - California, Kentucky and Maryland.