Philip Morris Just Won a Huge Class-Action Trial

April 8, 2016, 4:45 AM ET

<h1>Philip Morris International</h1> The tobacco company, which generates all its business outside the U.S., saw higher income in 2012 by focusing on growth in emerging markets. The stronger dollar hurt sales, which were up less than 1% to $31.4 billion, but its Marlboro brand kept business solid after Philip Morris launched a new ad campaign that promoted it in 20 markets globally. Photograph by Daniel Acker/Bloomberg/Getty

A jury in St. Louis on Thursday rejected a request for about $1.8 billion in damages against Philip Morris USA in a class-action lawsuit that claimed the company misled smokers about the health risks of “light” cigarettes.

The lawsuit was filed in 2000 after plaintiffs alleged the Altria Group Inc unit violated Missouri’s Merchandising Practices Act in marketing Marlboro Lights.

“The jury correctly rejected plaintiffs’ allegations of misrepresentation and damages,” Murray Garnick said on behalf of Philip Morris USA in a statement.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prohibits the use of “lights” and certain other descriptions unless the manufacturer receives permission to use them.

In November, the Illinois Supreme Court also threw out a $10.1 billion verdict against Philip Morris USA in a long-running lawsuit accusing the company of misleading smokers about the health risks of “light” cigarettes.

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