Illinois court won't reopen Philip Morris case
Legal News Center
[##_1L|1331906087.jpg|width="130" height="132" alt=""|_##]The Illinois Supreme Court denied requests that would have reopened a case filed by the state's smokers of "light" cigarettes against Philip Morris USA, according to a court document. The 4-2 ruling, posted on the court's Web site on Wednesday, stamps out efforts by plaintiffs to resurrect the failed case against the largest U.S. cigarette maker, a unit of Altria Group Inc.
Plaintiffs in the case had sued the company on behalf of Illinois residents who bought light cigarettes since the introduction of Marlboro Lights in 1971.
The lower court had found in favor of the plaintiffs and awarded them $10.1 billion in damages, but the decision was overturned by the state Supreme Court, which also directed the lower court to dismiss the action last year.
In May this year, however, after the U.S. Supreme Court took up another case against Philip Morris, the circuit court of Madison County asked whether it had jurisdiction to consider the plaintiff's request to set aside the Illinois Supreme Court's judgment in light of new developments.
But on Wednesday, the state Supreme Court denied the request and directed the lower court to enter an order dismissing the plaintiffs' motion.
Two Illinois Supreme Court justices, however, dissented.
"The court's action today is entirely predictable because it quickly and quietly closes the book on a case that a majority of this court, I am sure, would rather forget," Justice Charles Freeman wrote in his dissent.
Related listings
-
Ex-Gov. Ryan will remain free during second appeal
Legal News Center 08/22/2007[##_1L|1366027468.jpg|width="130" height="130" alt=""|_##]Former Gov. George Ryan will remain free while he pursues a second appeal of his sweeping fraud and corruption convictions, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled late this afternoon. In ...
-
Researcher Taps High Court Over Samples
Legal News Center 08/21/2007[##_1L|1255834421.jpg|width="90" height="119" alt=""|_##]A Supreme Court justice on Monday rejected a request by a Northwestern University cancer researcher in a dispute over ownership of thousands of blood and tissue samples. Dr. William Catalona sp...
-
High court backs law on driver drug tests
Legal News Center 08/15/2007The state's highest court upheld a Maine statute yesterday that mandates blood alcohol and drug testing of drivers when a motor vehicle accident results in a fatality.The decision stemmed from a manslaughter case in which a lower court ruled that the...
Is Now the Time to Really Call a Special Education Lawyer?
IDEA, FAPE, CHILD FIND and IEPs: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees all children with disabilities to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). FAPE starts with a school’s responsibility to identify that a child has a disability (Child Find) and create an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to suit the needs of the child.
Forte Law Group is one of only a very few law firms within the state of Connecticut that is dedicated to exclusively representing families and children with special needs.
Parents need to be persistent, dedicated and above all else aware of the many services and accommodations that their child is entitled to under the law. As early as this point within your child’s special education, many parents will often find themselves in the situation asking, “is now the time to really call a special education lawyer?” Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself that question.