Pearson, Grandlin v Philip Morris USA
Oregon Court Denies Class Action Status to "Lights" Lawsuit
An Oregon court declined to grant class-action status to a lawsuit against Philip Morris USA brought by a group of Marlboro Lights smokers.
The judge said too many individual issues would need to be considered in the case.
The suit was filed by Marilyn Pearson and Laura Grandin and alleges that Richmond-based Philip Morris violated Oregon laws. The suit claims that Philip Morris misled smokers into believing Marlboro Lights delivered less tar and nicotine than full-tar cigarettes when the company knew the cigarettes did not.
According to Judge Janice Wilson, the evidence showed that smokers may get different amounts of tar and nicotine from different cigarettes in the same pack, depending upon a number of variables.
As a result, the judge ruled that each member of the class would need to prove whether the Marlboro Lights he or she smoked delivered lowered tar and nicotine.
