Philip Morris faces class action suit over light cigarettes
Monday marked the beginning of the trial for a class action lawsuit in which Missouri smokers accuse tobacco company Philip Morris USA Inc. of falsely labeling its light cigarettes.
September 21, 2011 at 09:50 AM
3 minute read
The original version of this story was published on Law.com
Monday marked the beginning of the trial for a class action lawsuit in which Missouri smokers accuse tobacco company Philip Morris USA Inc. of falsely labeling its light cigarettes.
The plaintiffs claim that although the company's Marlboro Light cigarettes were advertised to contain lower levels of tar and nicotine, they were made with the same tobacco as regular cigarettes. The mislabeling could have led smokers to compensate for the lower advertised nicotine level by inhaling more deeply.
Marlboro Lights are the best-selling cigarettes in Missouri, and about 700 million packs were sold between 1995 and 2002, the period of time the lawsuit covers.
Philip Morris attorney Beth Wilkinson argued that Marlboro Lights include 11 percent less tobacco, more ventilation and a longer filter than regular Marlboro Red cigarettes. She also said it was no secret among public health professionals that consumers may inhale more deeply with light cigarettes.
Plaintiffs estimate damages at around $1 billion. The trial is expected to continue through Thanksgiving.
Monday marked the beginning of the trial for a class action lawsuit in which Missouri smokers accuse tobacco company
The plaintiffs claim that although the company's Marlboro Light cigarettes were advertised to contain lower levels of tar and nicotine, they were made with the same tobacco as regular cigarettes. The mislabeling could have led smokers to compensate for the lower advertised nicotine level by inhaling more deeply.
Marlboro Lights are the best-selling cigarettes in Missouri, and about 700 million packs were sold between 1995 and 2002, the period of time the lawsuit covers.
Philip Morris attorney Beth Wilkinson argued that Marlboro Lights include 11 percent less tobacco, more ventilation and a longer filter than regular Marlboro Red cigarettes. She also said it was no secret among public health professionals that consumers may inhale more deeply with light cigarettes.
Plaintiffs estimate damages at around $1 billion. The trial is expected to continue through Thanksgiving.
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
NOT FOR REPRINT
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
You Might Like
View All
‘Extremely Disturbing’: AI Firms Face Class Action by ‘Taskers’ Exposed to Traumatic Content
5 minute read
In-House Lawyers Are Focused on Employment and Cybersecurity Disputes, But Looking Out for Conflict Over AI
Trending Stories
- 120 New Judges? Connecticut Could Get Wave of Jurists
- 2Orrick Loses 10-Lawyer Team to Herbert Smith in Germany
- 3‘The US Market Is Critical’: KPMG’s Former Head of Global Legal Services On the Legal Arm of the Big Four Firm Entering the US
- 4Justice Marguerite Grays Elevated to Co-Chair Panel That Advises on Commercial Division
- 5McDermott Continues UK Growth With Another Partner Hire in London
Who Got The Work
J. Brugh Lower of Gibbons has entered an appearance for industrial equipment supplier Devco Corporation in a pending trademark infringement lawsuit. The suit, accusing the defendant of selling knock-off Graco products, was filed Dec. 18 in New Jersey District Court by Rivkin Radler on behalf of Graco Inc. and Graco Minnesota. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi, is 3:24-cv-11294, Graco Inc. et al v. Devco Corporation.
Who Got The Work
Rebecca Maller-Stein and Kent A. Yalowitz of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer have entered their appearances for Hanaco Venture Capital and its executives, Lior Prosor and David Frankel, in a pending securities lawsuit. The action, filed on Dec. 24 in New York Southern District Court by Zell, Aron & Co. on behalf of Goldeneye Advisors, accuses the defendants of negligently and fraudulently managing the plaintiff's $1 million investment. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick, is 1:24-cv-09918, Goldeneye Advisors, LLC v. Hanaco Venture Capital, Ltd. et al.
Who Got The Work
Attorneys from A&O Shearman has stepped in as defense counsel for Toronto-Dominion Bank and other defendants in a pending securities class action. The suit, filed Dec. 11 in New York Southern District Court by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld, accuses the defendants of concealing the bank's 'pervasive' deficiencies in regards to its compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the quality of its anti-money laundering controls. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, is 1:24-cv-09445, Gonzalez v. The Toronto-Dominion Bank et al.
Who Got The Work
Crown Castle International, a Pennsylvania company providing shared communications infrastructure, has turned to Luke D. Wolf of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani to fend off a pending breach-of-contract lawsuit. The court action, filed Nov. 25 in Michigan Eastern District Court by Hooper Hathaway PC on behalf of The Town Residences LLC, accuses Crown Castle of failing to transfer approximately $30,000 in utility payments from T-Mobile in breach of a roof-top lease and assignment agreement. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Susan K. Declercq, is 2:24-cv-13131, The Town Residences LLC v. T-Mobile US, Inc. et al.
Who Got The Work
Wilfred P. Coronato and Daniel M. Schwartz of McCarter & English have stepped in as defense counsel to Electrolux Home Products Inc. in a pending product liability lawsuit. The court action, filed Nov. 26 in New York Eastern District Court by Poulos Lopiccolo PC and Nagel Rice LLP on behalf of David Stern, alleges that the defendant's refrigerators’ drawers and shelving repeatedly break and fall apart within months after purchase. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Joan M. Azrack, is 2:24-cv-08204, Stern v. Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
Featured Firms
Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C.
(470) 294-1674
Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
(857) 444-6468
Smith & Hassler
(713) 739-1250
