Boost for 'light' cigarette cases

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The US Supreme Court has surprisingly ruled in favour of people suing tobacco companies alleging they deceptively marketed light or low-tar cigarettes.

The justices voted 5-4 that people could use state consumer protection laws to sue the companies.

The companies said federal laws did not allow states any say in advertising involving smoking and health.

But the ruling said that federal laws did not protect the firms from state laws against deceptive practices.

Class-action

The decision means tobacco companies will have to defend class-action suits filed in the state of Maine, which could then lead to further cases throughout the country.

Three Maine residents sued Altria Group and its Philip Morris unit on behalf of all smokers of Marlboro Lights or Cambridge Lights cigarettes in the state.

They must now prove that the use of "light" and "low-tar" in advertising violated the state's anti-fraud laws.

The Supreme Court had been expected to rule in favour of the companies, because in recent consumer cases it had ruled against state regulation of businesses, in favour of federal power.