[JURIST] The Department of Justice announced Wednesday that it would appeal a US District Court opinion [PDF text; additional case materials] that would prevent pursuit of $280 billion in damages from tobacco companies for charges of civil racketeering. The 3-judge panel decided the damages would be “disgorgement” and not sufficiently forward-thinking to be allowed. The DOJ filed a brief outlining the request to appeal earlier this month. Defendants will submit their response by the end of next week. AP has more.