US tobacco giant Philip Morris will have to cough up US $10.1 billion for providing wrong information about its "light" cigarettes. A court in the state of Illinois ruled that consumers had been misled into thinking that the company's "light" brand of cigarettes was less harmful than the regular type. Philip Morris said that it would appeal against the decision.
Judge Nicholas Byron said the damage amount was justified "because Philip Morris' motive was evil and the acts showed a reckless disregard for consumers' rights". He added: "The ... term 'light' not only conveyed a message of reduced harm ..., but also conveyed ... that the product was lower in tar and nicotine." The case is the first class action suit concerning the use of the word "light" to reach trial.
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