By AP/KWMU
Springfield, ILL. – Phillip Morris scored two wins Tuesday in Illinois. The state's Supreme Court said the company only has to put $6 billion into a special appeal bond. Originally it was told $12 billion needed to be put up to appeal a verdict from Madison County.
That verdict awarded plaintiffs $10 billion for misleading smokers into thinking light cigarettes are less harmful than regular ones.
Philip Morris claimed the higher bond would drive it into bankruptcy and force it to default on a 25-year nationwide tobacco settlement for more than $200 billion.
The Illinois Supreme Court then agreed to hear the case directly, which means the case skips the appellate level and goes directly to the state's high court.
A company executive says the decision is in the best interest of all parties. A spokeswoman for the plaintiff's attorney says they look forward to a Supreme Court review.
The case is the first consumer class-action lawsuit over light cigarettes to go to trial.