Closing arguments are underway in a landmark case pitting smokers and tobacco addicts against three Big Tobacco companies, with nearly $27 billion hanging in the balance.

With the help of two groups, about 1 million Quebec smokers are suing three Canadian tobacco manufacturers for the health care costs that accompanied their tobacco use.  

Plaintiffs accuse the tobacco companies of voluntarily misleading consumers for decades by fighting the growing scientific consensus on the dangers of tobacco.

It's been a lengthy process and a landmark case. Lawsuits were first filed by Jean-Yves Blais and Cecilia Letourneau in 1998, then merged seven years later. The trial itself only starting in 2012.

Blais died of lung cancer in 2012 at 68 years old; his son continues the battle on his behalf.

Meantime,  Imperial Tobacco spokesperson Eric Gagnon said he doesn't think a company should be responsible for people’s purchases.

""People knew about the risks associated with smoking for many decades and the government enabled and licensed us to sell those products knew about those health risks for many decades. We don't believe that the tobacco industry should be held responsible for personal choices that people made, knowing there were some health risks associated with smoking," he said.

The two lawsuits initially asked for $22 billion in damages, then later increased to $27 billion in damages and penalties.

More than 27,000 documents were presented and 78 witnesses were called to testify over 234 days of trial.

Both sides are expected to spend weeks making their closing arguments.

The arguments being made are similar to what has been heard in many jurisdictions across North America.

The Quebec Council on Health and Tobacco has argued that for decades Imperial Tobacco, Rothmans, Benson & Hedges, and JTI-Macdonald lied about the health risk of tobacco, and marketed a product they knew was dangerous and addictive.

Companies argue the health risks were known to all, including the federal government which allowed tobacco to be sold.

"We don't believe that the tobacco industry should be held responsible for personal choices that people made knowing there was some health risk associated with smoking," said Eric Gagnon of Imperial Tobacco.

The trial is set to end in November, and a verdict isn’t likely to be heard until 2015. Any decision, however, will likely be appealed to Quebec's Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada.
 

With files from CTV.ca