One of the oldest industries originating in the North American continent is the Tobacco Industry. Started in the 1600's, it has only recently come under fire in the past couple decades. The consequences levied against them from the multiple court battles have actually only been minimal. And the fines and payouts, most likely, barely noticed by their accounting department. And as much as they have been limited in where they can advertise, they haven't seen any major decline in use. Their forced advertising campaign against their own product, somehow seemed to boost sales to under age smokers instead of the opposite. All this media hype and all the money spent in courts, then all of a sudden, the entire subject just dropped off the media radar. The largest producers of this highly addictive substance is really not being regulated at all. Even after it was revealed that some chemicals were being added solely to increase addiction, they were not forced to stop this practice.
Additional Details
And really, think about it now.... Tobacco has been in comercial production since the early 1600s. An instant boom for Jamestown, Virginia in the colonization days, addicticting colonists as well as homeland Europe in a mere 20 years and going strong ever since. This industry has been more profitable, in an organized fasion, than any other industry. The auto industry does pretty good too, but their market penetration doesn't reach into poverty stricken third world countries. Philip Morris, the largest worldwide manufacturer, boasts sales in 160 countries worldwide. Most of the popular brand cigarretes are made by this company.
Do you really think the court system could possibly bankrupt this industry?
Their cash flow is too great, and their customer base is solidly addicted to their product. They have no worries about paying out a few billion in fines and reparations. They had that in their bank accounts at the turn of the LAST century, not 2000 but 1900.