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...
Illinois Work Injury Lawyers – Krol, Bongiorno & Given, LTD.
Accidents in the workplace are often caused by unsafe work conditions arising from ignoring safety rules, overlooking maintenance or other negligence of those in management. While we are one of the largest firms in Illinois dedicated solely to the representation of injured workers, we pride ourselves on the personal, one-on-one approach we deliver to each client.
Work accidents can cause serious injuries and sometimes permanent damage. Some extremely serious work injuries can permanently hinder a person’s ability to get around and continue their daily duties. Factors that affect one’s quality of life such as place of work, relationships with friends and family, and social standing can all be taken away quickly by a work injury. Although, you may not be able to recover all of your losses, you may be entitled to compensation as a result of your work injury. Krol, Bongiorno & Given, LTD. provides informed advocacy in all kinds of workers’ compensation claims, including:
• Injuries to the back and neck, including severe spinal cord injuries
• Serious head injuries
• Heart problems resulting from workplace activities
• Injuries to the knees, elbows, shoulders and other joints
• Injuries caused by repetitive movements
For Illinois Workers’ Compensation claims, you will ALWAYS cheat yourself if you do not hire an experienced attorney. When you hire Krol, Bongiorno & Given, Ltd, you will have someone to guide you through the process, and when it is time to settle, we will add value to your case IN EXCESS of our fee. In the last few years, employers and insurance carriers have sought to advance the argument that when you settle a case without an attorney, your already low settlement should be further reduced by 20% so that you do not get a “windfall.” Representing yourself in Illinois is a lose-lose proposition.