Arkansas Marlboro Lights Class Action Settlement

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

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

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