Minnesota Supreme Court Dismisses “Lights” Class Action against Philip Morris USA

Published on Wednesday, 30 May 2012 12:49 Written by TradersHuddle Staff

The Minnesota Supreme Court today ended a class action suit against Philip Morris USA in which smokers sought refunds for “lights” cigarettes they purchased.

The Supreme Court found that the class’ claims under a Minnesota consumer protection law were barred by the Tobacco Settlement Agreement signed by the Minnesota Attorney General and Philip Morris USA in 1998.

“The Minnesota Supreme Court properly dismissed this case as barred by the Tobacco Settlement Agreement,” said Murray Garnick, Altria Client Services senior vice president and associate general counsel, speaking on behalf of Philip Morris USA. “The Minnesota Supreme Court now joins with 14 courts in 15 ‘lights’ cases which have rejected these claims on a variety of legal and factual grounds.”

Filed more than ten years ago, this class purported to represent smokers worldwide who had purchased Marlboro Lights in Minnesota between 1971 and 2004.

The case is Curtis v. Philip Morris, Inc. case number: A10-0215.