By AP/KWMU/IL Public Radio
Washington, DC – The U.S. Supreme court Monday declined to revisit a ruling from the Illinois Supreme Court that tossed out a $10 billion class-action verdict against Philip Morris.
A Madison County judge ruled in 2003 the company defrauded consumers by suggesting light cigarettes were less dangerous than regular cigarettes.
The cigarette giant was originally ordered to pay the smokers a 10-billion dollar judgment, but that was overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court about a year ago. Because the federal government allowed cigarettes to be called "light," the state court said, Philip Morris couldn't be penalized for it.
The U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to hear the case leaves the plaintiffs with no where else to appeal, which means the case is dead.
The state's business community is welcoming the news. Ed Murnane heads the Illinois Civil Justice League, a group that supports limits on class-action lawsuits.
"The case was thoroughly reviewed and analyzed by the Illinois Supreme Court, and those at the U.S. Supreme Court who review cases such as this just decided that there was obviously no reason to take it any further," Murnane said.
"Murnane said the case only got as far as it did because it was filed in Madison County, a jurisdiction business leaders have criticized as being favorable to class actions.
Plaintiffs' attorneys could not be reached for comment.