RICHMOND, Va. -- The Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday ended a class-action suit against Altria Group's Philip Morris USA in which smokers sought refunds for "lights" cigarettes they purchased.
The state's Supreme Court found that the class' claims under a Minnesota consumer protection law were barred by the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) signed by the Minnesota attorney general and PM USA in 1998.
"The Minnesota Supreme Court properly dismissed this case as barred by the Tobacco [Master] Settlement Agreement," said Murray Garnick, Altria Client Services senior vice president and associate general counsel, speaking on behalf of Richmond, Va.-based PM 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 10 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.
Altria is the parent company of PM USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co. and John Middleton Co. It also owns Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Philip Morris Capital Corp., and a continuing economic and voting interest in SABMiller.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.