Illinois high court refuses to reconsider decision tossing $10.1B tobacco judgment News
Illinois high court refuses to reconsider decision tossing $10.1B tobacco judgment

[JURIST] The Illinois Supreme Court [official website] said Friday that it would not reconsider its decision [text; JURIST report] ruling invalid a $10.1 billion judgment against Philip Morris USA [corporate website] in a case where the tobacco company had been found liable for defrauding customers into believing that light cigarettes were safer than regular ones. In December, the state high court ordered the trial court to dismiss the case, holding that US Federal Trade Commission [official website] regulations gave tobacco companies authority to denominate products as "light" or "low tar and nicotine" and that under the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, companies cannot be held liable for behavior that has been specifically permitted by a regulatory body.

In its order Friday, the court did not elaborate on its decision to deny the plaintiffs' request for reconsideration, but two justices dissented, saying that the court had overlooked or misunderstood several of the plaintiffs' key points. A lawyer for the plaintiffs said an appeal to the US Supreme Court is planned [Reuters report]. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US Supreme Court ruled Indians not US citizens

On November 3, 1884, the US Supreme Court ruled in Elk v. Wilkins that John Elk, an American Indian who had tried to vote in a federal election in Omaha, Nebraska, was not a US citizen entitled to the protection of the 14th and 15th Amendments of the US Constitution. Native Americans became eligible for citizenship in 1887 under the Dawes Act, but only in 1924, under the Indian Citizenship Act, were all Native Americans born in the US made citizens.

Last public execution at Tyburn Gallows in London

On November 3, 1783, the last public execution took place at Tyburn Gallows in London, when John Austin was hanged for highway robbery. From the hanging of William Fitz Osburn in 1196 until Austin's execution, Tyburn served as London's primary location for public executions.

Learn more about the trial of John Austin.