Lorillard Tobacco Co said Tuesday it is considering whether to petition the Florida Supreme Court for a rehearing of the Engle class-action case.

If the company goes ahead with a request for a rehearing, it will need to be filed by 7 August, said Marty Orlowsky, chairman, president and chief executive of Lorillard Tobacco Co during a conference call Tuesday.
The Florida Supreme Court recently tossed out a US$ 145 billion verdict against five cigarette makers, including Lorillard, the maker of Newport cigarettes. The court's opinion was largely favourable for the tobacco companies, but it did open up the possibility for smokers within the state to pursue claims against the companies without having to prove certain points. For example, Florida smokers would not have to prove that smoking is addictive and that cigarette companies hid the dangers of their products from consumers.
Since the ruling was issued on 6 July, Altria Group's Philip Morris USA and other defendants have indicated that they may request a rehearing from the Florida Supreme Court. If the companies go ahead with their request for a rehearing, the Florida Supreme Court is not required to reach a decision within a given time period, Orlowsky said. If the Florida Supreme Court denies the companies' request, the companies also could appeal to the US Supreme Court.
This makes the timeline for an appeal of the Engle decision hard to predict, according to Orlowsky. (pi)