Supreme Court Opens Floodgates For New Cigarette Lawsuits

Supreme Court Opens Floodgates For New Cigarette Lawsuits

Tobacco companies suffered a defeat in the Supreme Court on Monday when the justices ruled that the companies can be sued by smokers who contend they were deceived by advertisements promoting "light" cigarettes.

In its 5-to-4 ruling, the court did not state that such advertising is, in fact, misleading. Rather, it concluded that lawsuits accusing the cigarette-makers of fraudulent conduct can proceed.

The ruling was a victory for a group of plaintiffs from Maine whose suit accused the tobacco companies of violating the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act by fraudulently advertising that their "light" cigarettes delivered far less tar and nicotine than regular brands.

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