Court denies request to open ‘lights’ case

Philip Morris USA said yesterday that the Madison County Circuit Court had denied the plaintiffs’ request to reopen the Price ‘Lights’ case.

“The trial court correctly recognized that the plaintiffs could not meet their burden of proof to reopen the judgment,” said Murray Garnick, Altria Client Services senior vice president and associate general counsel, speaking on behalf of PM USA. “Specifically, the plaintiffs did not show that they would have been successful before the Illinois Supreme Court.”

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now prohibits the use of ‘Lights’ and other descriptors unless a manufacturer receives authorization to use the terms.