Tobacco.org

Smokers' suit wins appeal 

The state Court of Appeals on Tuesday breathed new life into a lawsuit brought by two smokers against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., ruling that companies that make "light" or "low-tar" cigarettes can be sued for fraud under Minnesota law.

A lower court had agreed with the cigarette maker that federal law preempted such lawsuits.

Kay Nord Hunt, an attorney with Minneapolis-based Lommen Abdo Cole King & Stageberg, who represents the smokers, said the ruling was "very significant, because under the district court's ruling, essentially the tobacco industry is given license to lie."

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