Cancer victim sues Motorola

A neurologist in the United States is suing Motorola, the world's second largest mobile phone manufacturer, because he says that using a cell phone caused a malignant brain tumour.

Dr Christopher Newman, 41, has filed an $800m (£540m) lawsuit against Motorola and eight other telecommunications organisations.

The nine accused

Motorola

Verizon Communications

Bell Atlantic

Bell Atlantic Mobile

Southwestern Bell Mobile

Washington/Baltimore Cellular

SBC Communications

Cellular Telecommunication Industry Association

Telecommunication Industry Association

The lawsuit, filed in Baltimore, accuses the companies of failing to tell users that cell phones produce high levels of radio frequency radiation, which can cause cancer and other adverse health effects.

The malignant tumour was discovered in March 1998 behind Dr Newman's right ear.

His lawyer said that he used mobile phones at least several times a day between 1992 and 1998 for his work.

"If I had a choice, I would never use a cellphone, because even with the potential risks, it's just not worth it," said Dr Newman.

Link denied

A spokesman for Motorola said there had been a number of lawsuits asserting a connection between mobile phone use and health problems, but that a link had never been proven.

More than 90 million Americans use mobile phones

But Dr Newman's lawyer believes that medical evidence about the location and nature of Dr Newman's tumour gives him a stronger case than in earlier actions against mobile phone companies.

More than 90 million American now have cell phones, and most of them began using the phones in the past five years.

Last month a trade organisation introduced a policy requiring cell phone makers to disclose information on radiation levels produced by their phones.

The US Food and Drug Administration is to undertake new studies into possible side-effects of cell phones, with funding from the mobile communications industry.