Appellate court of Illinois decided to restore the jury verdict, imposed in 2003, that sentenced the Philip Morris company to a fine of 10.1 billion dollars for the misleading of smokers about the safety of "light" cigarettes.

Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Illinois on Tuesday decided to restore imposed in 2003 guilty verdict of Philip Morris USA company (PM, division Altria Group) on misleading consumers regarding the use in advertising such terms as "light cigarettes" and "low-tar". Court reinstated the past court's decision that the company must pay a fine and compensation of $ 10.1 billion dollars to the plaintiffs of this case.

Lawsuit against the PM was filed in Illinois in 2000 on behalf of 1.4 million people which accused the company in misleading smokers about the harm of "light" and lower tar cigarettes (Tobacco companies began selling "light," "mild," or "low tar" cigarettes in the 1970s that they marketed as less harmful because they had ventilated filters and less nicotine). In 2003, the court found the company's guilty and sentenced it to pay 10.1 billion dollars, however, the court's decision was overturned in 2005 by the Supreme Court of the State, which heeded on cigarette manufacturer arguments about the use of "light," "mild," or "low tar" inscriptions which were allowed by U.S. Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ).