A California Superior Court judge rejected damage claims up to USD 1 billion (EUR 740 million) in a class-action suit filed on behalf of Marlboro Lights smokers against Philip Morris USA, the tobacco company said.

Brought in 1997, the suit accused PM USA of violating California law by labelling cigarettes 'lights' and 'low tar and nicotine'. Plaintiffs asked restitution for a portion of the price paid for Marlboro Lights between 1998 and 2001, according to PM USA.
“Plaintiffs failed to present any specific evidence entitling them to injunctive relief", states the ruling by Judge Ronald Prager cited by PM USA. "To the contrary, the evidence established that the descriptors on which the plaintiffs base their case have been removed and, because of changes in the law, these descriptors can never be used again. Since there is little likelihood that the conduct giving rise to this case will reoccur, the claim for injunctive relief is moot.”
Willard R Brown, et al v The American Tobacco Co, Inc et al, case number 711400