Illinois Justice Has Conflict In $10B Case, Plaintiffs Claim

An Illinois Supreme Court justice re-elected with funding from a Republican fund bankrolled in part by the Altria Group, Phillip Morris’ parent company, should step down from a $10.1 billion appeal by the tobacco giant, plaintiffs say. The class-action lawsuit against Phillip Morris alleges that calling some cigarettes “low-tar” and “light” should be considered fraud. This is the second effort to get Justice Lloyd Karmeier recused from the appeal, with the earlier effort rebuffed when Karmeier said there was no evidence the tobacco company made significant contributions to his 2004 election campaign. This time, plaintiffs say they have proof that Phillip Morris accounted for nearly 60 percent of the $1.2 million spent to support Karmeier’s campaign.