The 4-2 ruling, posted on the court's Web site, stamps out efforts by plaintiffs to resurrect the failed case in which the plaintiffs sued Philip Morris USA on behalf of Illinois residents who had bought ‘light’ cigarettes since the introduction of Marlboro Lights in 1971.
The lower court had found in favour of the plaintiffs and awarded them USD 10.1 billion in damages, but the decision was overturned by the state Supreme Court, which sided with PM USA's argument that it was protected from the lawsuit because the Federal Trade Commission had specifically authorized the marketing of cigarettes as light and low tar.
In May, however, after the U.S. Supreme Court took up another case against Philip Morris, the circuit court of Madison County asked whether it had jurisdiction to consider the plaintiff's request to set aside the Illinois Supreme Court's judgment in light of new developments. But the state Supreme Court denied the request and directed the lower court to enter an order dismissing the plaintiffs' motion.