The US Supreme Court agreed to a cigarette maker's request to decide whether tobacco companies can be sued in state courts over alleged deceptive advertising of ‘light’ cigarettes, the Associated Press reports.

The issue before the justices is whether state laws against unfair marketing practices may be used in suits against the tobacco companies or whether federal law bars such lawsuits. The Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act says states can't impose any requirements on the advertising or promotion of cigarettes.
A federal judge initially threw out a suit filed by three Maine residents against Altria Group and its Philip Morris USA subsidiary that alleged the advertising of light cigarettes was unfair and deceptive.
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, however, reinstated the suit.
Philip Morris said the lawsuit was properly dismissed by the federal judge and called on the court to resolve a conflict between appeals courts' over these sorts of lawsuits. (pi)