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IL Appeals Court Revives Cigarette Lawsuit
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (AP) -- A lawsuit that led to a $10.1 billion verdict against Philip Morris before it was overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court has been revived by a lower court.

The Mount Vernon-based 5th District Appellate Court on Thursday cleared the way for the plaintiffs to argue that a favorable 2008 U.S. Supreme Court decision in an unrelated case may be applied to reinstate the questioned Madison County one.

In 2003, a judge found that Philip Morris misled customers about ``light'' cigarettes. The Illinois Supreme Court later overturned that, saying regulators let companies characterize or label their cigarettes as ``light'' and ``low tar.''

The lead plaintiffs' attorney tells the St. Louis Post-Dispatch his firm is eager to press ahead. A lawyer speaking on Philip Morris' behalf says the plaintiffs' claims are meritless.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
02 26 11 by Newsroom
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