In a severe setback for anti-tobacco lawyers, a Florida jury cleared RJReynolds Tobacco of all blame for the death of smoker Jean Connor, concluding that she chose to smoke in spite of the well-known risks

Ms Connor died from lung cancer when she was 49. Her sister had filed a lawsuit against R J Reynolds.
Tobacco stocks soared on the news because the tobacco industry has recently suffered a string of defeats in the US, and investors had feared that the litigation atmosphere could turn decisively against cigarette makers.