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Altria Fails to Block California Smokers’ Lawsuit (Update3)  

Altria Group Inc., the maker of Marlboro cigarettes, and other tobacco companies lost a bid to block a group lawsuit claiming that they misled thousands of Californians about the dangers of smoking.

A divided California Supreme Court today reinstated a class-action, or group, lawsuit against tobacco companies, saying each smoker in the case isn’t required to prove that they relied on specific false statements when the alleged misrepresentations were part of “an extensive and long-term advertising campaign.”

Altria, the Richmond, Virginia-based parent company of Philip Morris USA, is the largest U.S. tobacco company. The lawsuit names Philip Morris and seven other tobacco companies as defendants.

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