I have warned here many times about Big Tobacco’s misleading claims regarding so-called "light cigarettes".

The Supreme Court now ruled that smokers can sue tobacco companies for their allegedly deceptive marketing of those products. Needless to say, any existing claims by ex-smokers against tobacco companies will experience a strong support from this ruling.

The US Supreme Court on Monday ruled that smokers can sue Altria and other tobacco companies for allegedly deceptive marketing of "light" or "low tar" cigarettes.

The high court said such lawsuits are allowed under federal law in a 5-4 decision that will add weight to massive claims filed by ex-smokers against Altria, whose Philip Morris unit is best known for Marlboro cigarettes, and other big tobacco producers.

The case involved three residents of the northeast state of Maine who puffed on Marlboro Lights and Cambridge Lights for 15 years and had argued they had a right under state law to sue the companies for allegedly deceiving smokers that light cigarettes were healthier.

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