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This settlement is closed!
Please see what other class action settlements you might qualify to claim cash from in our Open Settlements directory!
Philip Morris USA Inc. has agreed to pay $45 million to settle a class action lawsuit that accused the company of marketing Marlboro Lights and Marlboro Ultra Lights as “healthier” than regular cigarettes.
The settlement will resolve a class action lawsuit filed by plaintiffs Wayne Miner and James Easley in 2003.
The plaintiffs say they smoked about two packs of Marlboro Lights per day until 2000, believing them to be a safer alternative to regular cigarettes.
According to the class action lawsuit, Philip Morris marketed and sold Marlboro Lights and Marlboro Ultra Lights with misleading phrases such as “lower tar and nicotine.”
Miner and Easley claim that Marlboro Lights do not have lower tar and nicotine than regular Marlboros and in fact may be more dangerous because consumers might end up smoking more cigarettes to get the amount of nicotine they require.
This class action lawsuit does not cover actual damages suffered from addiction or health-related injuries, however Class Members who file a Claim Form can recover partial reimbursement for each pack purchased in Arkansas between 1971 and 2010.
Philip Morris continues to deny the allegations but agreed to settle the class action to avoid the risk and expense of further litigation.
The Court has not decided who is right.
Those Class Members who want to object to the settlement or be excluded must do so by Nov. 1, 2016.
Who’s Eligible
Class Members include all persons who bought Marlboro Light or Marlboro Ultra Light cigarettes in the state of Arkansas for personal consumption between Nov. 1, 1971 and June 22, 2010.
Potential Award
Varies.
Payments will be made to Class Members who file valid claims in the following calculations:
- 10 cents per pack for each pack purchased between Nov. 1, 1971 and Apr. 17, 1998
- 25 cents per pack for each pack purchased between Apr. 18, 1998 and Apr. 18, 2003
- 10 cents per pack for each pack purchased between Apr. 19, 2003 and June 22, 2010
“If the total value of submitted claims exceeds the money available in the Settlement Fund, each claim payment will be reduced pro rata. If the total value of submitted claims are less than the money available in the Settlement Fund, each claim payment may be increased pro rata.”
Proof of Purchase
N/A.
In order to benefit from this settlement, you must file a Claim Form no later than Dec. 1, 2016.
Claim Form
Claim Form Deadline
12/01/2016
Case Name
Wayne Miner and James Easley v. Philip Morris USA Inc. Case No. 60-cv-2003-4661, in the Circuit Court of Pulaski County, Arkansas
Final Hearing
11/21/2016
UPDATE: On November 21, 2016, the court granted the Arkansas Marlboro Lights settlement final approval. Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.
UPDATE 2: On April 17, 2017, Top Class Actions viewers started receiving checks in the mail worth as much as $7,888! Congratulations to all our readers who filed a claim and got paid!
Settlement Website
www.MarlboroLightsClass.com
Claims Administrator
Marlboro Lights Settlement Administrator
PO Box 4349
Portland, OR 97208-4349
1-877-625-9432
Email: info@MarlboroLightsClass.com
Class Counsel
Thomas P. Thrash
Marcus N. Bozeman
THRASH LAW FIRM P.A.
Dewitt M. Lovelace
LOVELACE AND ASSOCIATES P.A.
John Eddie Williams, Jr.
Edwin Armistead Easterby
Brian Abramson
Sean McCarthy
WILLIAMS, KHERKHER, HART, BOUNDAS LLP
Joe J. Fisher, II
Guy Fisher
W. Michael Hamilton
PROVOST UMPHREY LAW FIRM LLP
Defense Counsel
John Massaro
ARNOLD & PORTER LLP
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100 thoughts onArkansas Marlboro Lights Class Action Settlement
Any word on the final hearing?
Why is this only State by State. We Need 1 for Texas , everyone is and was affected by this, Not just the Northern States.
This was for Arkansas….we are a southern state right next to you if your in Texas!
I have been smoking since they came out and I am 62 yrs old..
I DO live in Arkansas and I DO still smoke Marlboro….I’m dang sure submitting my claim!
I was in Ak during that time and did purchase the Marlboros in question
AK is Alaska. AR is Arkansas.
peeps need to be careful…last 4 of ssn will help identify where you have lived in your life and what your age is…perjury is never pretty on anyone.
Requirig the Input of the last 4 of your SS# makes no sense and can be iffy now days given all the idenity thefts going on in the US, your DOB should be good enough!
It’s actually used to identify your age/who you are and also if you ever utilized coupons, mailing in the rewards, etc. as well as make sure your address was in Arkansas during whatever years you said you were buying cigs….this won’t be a free for all and if you get caught, the fine/penalty of perjury will be worse than the dollars you get from this settlement.
I don’t want to assume what is meant by the phrase ‘YOU PEOPLE’ and the reference to KOOL FILTER KINGS and NEWPORTS Martin, but I find it offensive. I am from Arkansas(WPS), born and raised until we moved 3 years ago. I have smoked Marlboro Lights and just an FYI, Marlboro DOES sell menthol cigarettes. I quit smoking years ago but was smoking up to 2 packs a day for almost 20 years. And, *gasp* I happen to be a woman of color..alert the press!
Making those type of blanket generalities based upon race stereotypes is offensive, and shows ignorance on a very deep level. We all know people come on here looking for a quick buck for products and services they have never used or purchased. To bring any type of racial bias to that is disgusting; wrong is wrong and right is right no matter the race of the person..let’s keep it on that level instead of making statements that attempt to make a certain race look like scam artists and liars.
your kidding 1 pack in 1971 was what all i know that in 1983 1 pack was 1.75 now it is 11.25 in nys long islang they wont get away with this
Roccoa….yes they will….your factoring in taxes that the federal government and the states charge and collect. the true cost of a package of cigarettes is around $1 or so…the rest of that money goes into state and federal coffers…..you expect Marlboro to reimburse your tax payments too?
unless somebody is an extreme hoarder, not body is going to keep empty cigarette pkg. from 1971. Good job attorneys ,making sure you get everything, smokers get zilch!