Tobacco giants pay $100m to settle smoking lawsuits in Florida

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/feb/25/tobacco-giants-settle-smoking-lawsuits-florida

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A $100m settlement has been reached between three major tobacco companies and hundreds of people who sued them in Florida federal court.

The lawsuits stemmed from a 2006 Florida supreme court decision, known as Engle, that threw out a $145bn class-action verdict against cigarette makers.

That decision let stand findings that the companies knowingly sold dangerous products and hid smoking hazards, but also required smokers and their families to pursue individual lawsuits.

The tentative agreement announced on Wednesday involves RJ Reynolds Tobacco, Philip Morris USA and Lorillard Tobacco. The deal resolves about 400 cases pending before a federal judge in Jacksonville, Florida, but does not affect thousands of other lawsuits pending in Florida state courts.

The settlement would end the federal cases.