But the company unquestionably misled its investors, he said.

In each case, the city agency charged in a complaint, the companies had misled customers about their fees.

In addition to what they described as deceptive ads, department officials said the three companies had misled customers over the phone.

Anti-smoking activists have denounced the initiative, claiming the company has misled voters.

One of the study's researchers went so far as to say that the company is misleading the public by using his findings in this way.

Four government lawyers shared the closing arguments, reviewing evidence that they said showed how the companies misled the public over the adverse effects of smoking.

The investigations have prompted several shareholder lawsuits contending that the company misled investors.

The investigations are apparently concerned with whether the company misled investors and federal health authorities about the conditions at its factory.

There is nothing illegal about the practice, workplace experts say, unless the discharged employees can prove the company misled them.

That has prompted shareholder lawsuits and government investigations into whether the company misled shareholders.