Illinois Supreme Court Vacates $10.1 Billion Judgment Against Altria
05 November 2015 - 8:05AM
Dow Jones News
By Chelsey Dulaney
The Illinois Supreme Court on Wednesday vacated an appellate
court ruling that had reinstated a $10.1 billion dollar judgment
against Altria Group Inc. in a long-running lawsuit over the
marketing of so-called "light" cigarettes.
The ruling stems back to a 2000 lawsuit by smokers against
Altria's Philip Morris USA unit.
A landmark 2003 verdict ordering the multibillion-dollar
judgment against the tobacco giant for marketing its cigarettes as
"light" and "low tar" was overturned in 2005 by the state's highest
court. Plaintiffs then petitioned a lower appeals court to hear the
case anew, citing new information.
Last year, an Illinois appellate court reinstated the verdict,
which Altria then appealed.
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled in its decision Wednesday that
the appellate court didn't have the authority to vacate the
judgment dismissing the order, as it came from a higher court.
An attorney representing the plaintiffs couldn't immediately be
reached for comment.
Tobacco companies began selling "light," "mild," or "low tar"
cigarettes in the 1970s that they marketed as less harmful because
they had ventilated filters and less nicotine. Companies have been
prohibited from labeling cigarettes as light or mild since
2010.
Machine tests indicated cigarettes labeled "light" were less
harmful because the holes allowed air to dilute the tobacco smoke.
But researchers say in practice, smokers cover the holes with their
mouth or fingers.
Write to Chelsey Dulaney at Chelsey.Dulaney@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 04, 2015 15:50 ET (20:50 GMT)
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