Press Releases

Altria Group, Inc. (Altria) today announced that Murray S. Kessler, Vice Chair of Altria and President and Chief Executive Officer of UST LLC (UST), will leave the company at the end of June, having overseen the completion of the key elements of UST's integration into Altria. Following Altria's acquisition of UST, Mr. Kessler agreed to stay on to oversee the integration and help complete the transition.

Today Altria Group called President Obama’s signing of legislation giving the Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority over tobacco products an important and historic achievement. The company has supported tough but reasonable federal regulation of tobacco products for more than eight years.

Altria Group statement released on June 11, 2009 regarding the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act:

Philip Morris USA (PM USA) and its parent company, Altria Group, Inc. (Altria Group), will seek review of today’s appeals court ruling largely upholding a trial judge’s decision in 2006 that PM USA, Altria Group and the other major cigarette companies violated civil provisions of the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

A divided California Supreme Court today reversed lower court rulings decertifying a class action against major tobacco manufacturers and sent the case back to the trial court to determine, among other things, whether the named plaintiffs could maintain the suit under standards announced in today’s ruling.

The U.S. Supreme Court today dismissed the company’s appeal of a 1999 punitive damages award of $79.5 million to the family of a individual smoker in a case known as Williams.

A Pinellas County jury today ruled in favor of Philip Morris USA in one of the first tobacco lawsuits following a 2006 Florida Supreme Court decision that decertified a class action but allowed former class members to file individual lawsuits.

Philip Morris USA said today it will seek appellate review of a jury verdict awarding $8 million in total damages to the family of a former smoker.

A Tennessee state court today dismissed the class-action allegations in a lawsuit brought against Altria Group and Philip Morris USA alleging violations of state consumer protection laws for using the terms "Lights" and "Lowered Tar and Nicotine" on packages of Marlboro Lights cigarettes.

John Middleton Co. joined other cigar companies in asking a Maryland circuit court to overturn a recently enacted Prince George’s law that bans the sale of single cigars.

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court today ruled that a lawsuit involving "lights" cigarettes brought under the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act was not barred by federal law.

A New York intermediate appellate court today ruled that an individual smoker is barred from attempting to recover punitive damages in New York state court cases.

Philip Morris USA said today it will seek further review in the Scott case after a Louisiana trial judge ordered the nation’s major cigarette companies to pay some $263.5 million to fund a statewide 10-year smoking cessation program.

The U.S. Supreme Court today agreed to review the Oregon Supreme Court’s ruling upholding a 1999 verdict that awarded the family of a deceased individual smoker $79.5 million in punitive damages from Philip Morris USA.

Philip Morris USA (PM USA) filed two lawsuits in federal court yesterday in Los Angeles, Ca., aimed at stopping the importation, distribution, and sale of counterfeit cigarettes and the unauthorized use of PM USA's trademarks.

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit today reversed the certification of a nationwide class action of “lights” smokers.

Philip Morris USA filed two lawsuits in federal court yesterday in the Eastern District of New York against importers, C.H. Rhodes of Flushing, N.Y., and U.S. Sun Star Trading Inc. of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Today’s United States Supreme Court decision not to review the Engle decision at this time is not a decision on the merits of the case, but rather was based on the current procedural posture of the case...

Philip Morris USA filed lawsuits today against retailers selling counterfeit versions of the company’s Marlboro® brand cigarettes.

Philip Morris USA has filed two lawsuits in federal court against Internet site operators engaged in the sale of illegally imported cigarettes bearing Philip Morris USA's trademarks, including the Marlboro mark.

Philip Morris USA today announced the introduction of Marlboro Moist Smokeless Tobacco into test market. Marlboro Moist Smokeless Tobacco will be offered in Original and Wintergreen flavors and will be available in Long Cut and Fine Cut varieties.

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to reverse rulings by lower federal courts in the Watson case and remand it to state court does not negatively affect the ultimate outcome of the case or that of other "Lights" cases, Philip Morris USA said today.

Altria and Philip Morris USA said today that the district court's order clarifying its earlier decision on two legal issues is contrary to the law.

The U.S. Supreme Court today reversed and vacated a $79.5 million punitive damage award returned by a 1999 Oregon jury in a case known as Williams-Branch. The case will now return to the Oregon courts for proceedings consistent with Philip Morris USA’s due process rights.

Altria Group, Inc. and its domestic tobacco company Philip Morris USA today reaffirmed their longstanding support for granting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to effectively regulate tobacco products, and urged Congress to take quick action on the FDA legislation sponsored by Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and John Cornyn (R-TX), and Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Tom Davis (R-VA).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2005, an estimated 70 percent of current adult smokers in the United States indicated they wanted to quit.

Philip Morris USA today said it is pleased that data from the University of Michigan’s “Monitoring the Future” survey showed that smoking rates among 8th, 10th and 12th grade students have decreased to all-time lows.

The U.S. Supreme Court today denied review of the Price “lights” class action case.

Altria Group, Inc. Presents at Morgan Stanley Global Consumer and Retail Conference

Philip Morris USA (PM USA) is asking entertainment industry decision-makers to voluntarily eliminate the use of its products from their productions with a new trade print advertising campaign.

Philip Morris USA will seek prompt appellate review of a federal judge's decision today to certify a national class of "light" smokers involving all major cigarette manufacturers.

Remarks by Michael E. Szymanczyk, Chairman and CEO, Philip Morris USA Inc. at Prudential Consumer Conference

Philip Morris USA and its parent company, Altria Group, Inc., will seek review of U.S. District Court Judge Gladys Kessler’s ruling today that PM USA, Altria Group and the other cigarette companies violated civil provisions of the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

July marks the launch of Taboka (tuh'-BOH-kuh), a smoke-free, spit-free tobacco pouch product manufactured and marketed by Philip Morris USA.

The Illinois Supreme Court today, with consent from both parties, ordered the return to Philip Morris USA of the approximately $2.15 billion in cash securing the appeal bond in the Price "lights" case.

The U.S. Supreme Court today granted Philip Morris USA's petition for review in an Oregon individual smoker's case, known as Williams-Branch.

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) named Altria Group, Inc. one of "America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises."

Research indicates that youth exposure to smoking in movies can have an impact on whether or not young people smoke.

The Oregon Supreme Court today affirmed a $79.5 million punitive damages jury verdict against Philip Morris USA.

Philip Morris USA (PM USA) has joined with 37 state attorneys general to establish protocols aimed at combating illegal sales of the companys cigarettes over the Internet or by mail, telephone or fax. The protocols are established for responding to state-provided information related to illegal remote sales of the company's cigarettes.

A Minnesota state court today struck down the state's recently enacted "health impact fee" as a violation of the state's settlement agreement with the settling cigarette manufacturers, including Philip Morris USA.

Remarks by Louis C. Camilleri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Altria Group, Inc. at Morgan Stanley Global Consumer and Retail Conference.

Remarks by David R. Beran Executive Vice President Finance, Planning and Information Philip Morris USA Inc. at Prudential Back-to-School Consumer Conference.

Philip Morris USA (PM USA) today filed a motion in Minnesota state court challenging the recently enacted Minnesota health impact fee.

A federal judge in Tennessee today dismissed a lawsuit challenging Philip Morris USA's Wholesale Leaders program.

To raise awareness of the importance of youth smoking prevention and to encourage parents to talk to their kids about not smoking, Philip Morris USA is airing two national television advertisements.

Philip Morris USA's spending on cigarette brand advertising reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) decreased for the sixth consecutive year as the Company continued to reduce magazine, newspaper and retail point-of-sale advertising in 2003.

According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more people are former smokers than current smokers and 46 million adults have quit smoking. To help current smokers who have decided to quit be more successful, Philip Morris USA is offering a free information resource—QuitAssist™—nationwide.

A federal appeals court has rejected an attempt to establish a nationwide class solely for the purpose of establishing an industry fund to pay punitive damages for yet-to-be filed claims from smokers across the country.

Today, a Dade County Circuit Court jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of Philip Morris USA and other cigarette manufacturers, finding that they are not responsible for the injuries a flight attendant claims were caused by her exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) while employed as a flight attendant.

Remarks by Louis C. Camilleri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Altria Group, Inc.'s 2005 Annual Shareholders Meeting.

A federal appeals court today denied the Department of Justice’s request to reconsider its February 2005 opinion holding that disgorgement of past revenues and profits is not an available remedy in the federal government’s civil RICO case against Philip Morris USA, the other major tobacco companies and other defendants.

Philip Morris USA’s web site, which features the company’s position on smoking and health, youth smoking prevention information, resources for people who have decided to quit smoking and countless other resources, is now available in Spanish.

DiversityInc announced today its fifth annual Top 50 Companies for Diversity, ranking Altria Group, Inc. first on the list.

Altria Group, Inc. is proud to announce that it has been named one of America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises by Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).

San Diego Superior Court Judge Ronald S. Prager has decertified the Brown class action after finding that the November 2004 voter referendum known as Proposition 64 applied to the case.

A state court jury has determined that Philip Morris USA is not liable for damages in a claim brought by a California man who began smoking the company’s cigarettes in 1964.

A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C. today ruled that the civil Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) does not permit the government to seek disgorgement of past revenues and profits as a remedy in its case against Philip Morris USA, the other major tobacco companies and other defendants.

Remarks by Louis C. Camilleri, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Altria Group, Inc. at Morgan Stanley Global Consumer Conference.

Philip Morris USA said it will appeal a jury verdict in favor of a former smoker who claimed that a design defect in Marlboro and Benson & Hedges cigarettes caused his illness.

The New York Court of Appeals has ruled that the state's largest medical insurer cannot use a state consumer protection law to pursue direct claims for the recovery of medical expenses from cigarette makers.

A California appellate court yesterday affirmed the dismissal of a state-wide class-action case alleging that cigarette advertising targeted minors and caused them to smoke.

Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal today denied a request to reconsider its decision to decertify a class of Marlboro Lights and Ultra Lights smokers who are seeking the return of their purchase price of cigarettes sold in Florida since 1971.

Philip Morris USA today filed its final legal brief in connection with the appeal of a $10.1 billion judgment in its appeal of the Price judgment.

Philip Morris USA said the public saw substantial proof of how the tobacco industry has changed when it presented its evidence in the federal tobacco trial, which began Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

Altria Group, Inc., the parent company of Kraft Foods, Philip Morris International and Philip Morris USA, has announced more than $3 million in grants to visual arts and cultural organizations in the United States this year, ranging from large, well-established institutions to smaller emerging organizations and alternative spaces.

Remarks by Dinyar S. Devitre, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Altria Group, Inc. at Prudential Back-to-School Consumer Conference.

Altria Group, Inc.’s Shared Solutions^SM Agricultural Contributions Program is accepting grant applications from U.S. nonprofit agricultural groups for initiatives that bring innovative solutions or thinking to issues affecting the farm-to-consumer supply community.

Today, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court reinstated a “lights” class action, ruling that Massachusetts’ Consumer Protection laws require the trial court to allow the case to proceed as a class action but noting that the class certification “may be revisited” at a later time.

The National Urban League has announced the 2004 return of the well-received economic empowerment program, Know Your Money^TM.

A federal judge presiding over the government's lawsuit against Philip Morris USA has penalized the company for the possible inadvertent loss of some emails by company employees.

Philip Morris USA today urged the Florida Supreme Court to affirm an earlier appellate court decision overturning the $145 billion judgment in the Engle class action and decertifying the class.

A federal appellate court today said it would consider now, as opposed to after trial, the question of whether the Department of Justice is legally entitled to seek disgorgement of $280 billion in alleged “ill-gotten gains” from Philip Morris USA and other major cigarette companies as part of the Department of Justice lawsuit.

A response brief filed earlier this week with the Illinois Supreme Court by the Price class asks the Court to ignore well-established state and federal law in order to uphold a $10.1 billion judgment issued last year in Madison County, according to Philip Morris USA.

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler granted a motion brought by Philip Morris USA and the other tobacco industry defendants seeking an immediate appeal on the issue of disgorgement in the Department of Justice lawsuit.

The Oregon Court of Appeals today refused to reduce a jury’s 1999 award of $79.5 million in punitive damages to a single smoker’s estate.

U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler today ruled that she will wait until the lawsuit brought by the Department of Justice against tobacco companies is tried before deciding whether the government’s disgorgement claim is valid.

Philip Morris USA said it will appeal today's verdict by a New Orleans jury in the Scott case ordering the nation's major cigarette manufacturers to pay approximately $590 million for a smoking cessation program in Louisiana.

The Florida Supreme Court announced today that it will review a decision by the state’s intermediate appellate court in the Engle case.

Philip Morris USA will vigorously oppose attempts by plaintiffs’ lawyers to create a nationwide class of “light” cigarette smokers.

A Florida appellate court has affirmed, without explanation, a St. Petersburg jury’s 2003 decision ordering Philip Morris USA and Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corp. to pay damages to a former smoker who has lung disease.

U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler Thursday ruled that the government will need to prove at trial whether the tobacco industry intends to engage in “future misconduct” when it comes to the marketing and sales of their products.

Philip Morris USA said today’s decision by the West Virginia Supreme Court affirming the defense jury verdict in the first tobacco medical monitoring class action ever tried is consistent with established law and the facts of the case.

Philip Morris USA has announced its timeline for the closure of its remaining production facility in Louisville, Kentucky.

The California Supreme Court today agreed to review a lower appellate court’s decision ordering Philip Morris USA to pay a smoker who contracted cancer $9 million in punitive damages in addition to $1.5 million in compensatory damages.

The California Court of Appeal today overturned a plaintiff’s verdict issued in the Whiteley case and sent the case back to the San Francisco Superior Court for retrial.

Philip Morris USA said a decision today by the Mississippi Supreme Court that upholds the dismissal of a lawsuit by Owens Corning Inc. against the company and other major cigarette makers is in line with established law.

The Minnesota Court of Appeals yesterday declined to accept an interlocutory appeal of a trial court’s decision rejecting class action status for the Curtis “lights” case against Philip Morris USA.

A Minnesota state judge in Minneapolis today rejected class action certification in a case seeking refunds for Marlboro Lights cigarette purchases.

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO), the parent company of Kraft Foods, Philip Morris International and Philip Morris USA, said today that, as a result of recently announced employee relocations, an office facility on Westchester Avenue in Rye Brook, New York will be offered for sale.

Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal today reversed a trial court’s ruling that certified a class of all current and former smokers who purchased Marlboro Lights and Ultra Lights cigarettes in Florida, saying the case did not meet the legal requirements for class-action treatment.

Legal errors committed by the Madison County Circuit Court require reversal of the $10.1 billion Price class action judgment and decertification of the class of “lights” cigarette smokers, Philip Morris USA told the Illinois Supreme Court in its initial appellate brief filed today.

A New Hampshire jury has concluded that Philip Morris USA should not be liable for a smoker’s lung-cancer death. It was the first smoking-and-health case tried in New Hampshire.

Philip Morris USA will appeal today’s verdict by a Missouri jury to award nearly $1.6 million in compensatory damages to a sick smoker and $500,000 in damages to his wife.

Today a Dade County Circuit Court jury decided Philip Morris USA and other cigarette makers are not responsible for the injuries a former flight attendant claims were caused by her workplace exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).

The U.S. Supreme Court today set aside an Oregon appellate court's June 2002 opinion affirming a $79.5 million punitive damage award to a smoker's estate, and directed the appellate court to reconsider the case in view of its recent opinion in State Farm v. Campbell.

Philip Morris USA said the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking damages on behalf of a class of private plaintiffs under the federal Medicare Secondary Payer Act (MSP), one of the laws that formed the original basis for the Justice Department’s lawsuit against the tobacco industry.

Senators on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee announced this evening that negotiations over landmark legislation that would have granted the Food & Drug Administration meaningful, effective authority over tobacco products have stalled for the time being.

The California Court of Appeal, citing the recent United States Supreme Court opinion in State Farm, yesterday vacated the $25 million punitive damage award in Henley v. Philip Morris USA.

In a 16-page opinion issued today, a federal appellate court has upheld the dismissal of all damages claims sought in a health care cost reimbursement lawsuit filed in 1998 against Philip Morris USA and other tobacco companies by two Minnesota-based health maintenance organizations (HMOs).

The Engle plaintiffs have offered no valid legal reasons why Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal should reconsider its decision earlier this year to overturn the $145 billion judgment in the case and have the class decertified, according to a legal brief filed today by Philip Morris USA and other tobacco companies.

Altria Group, Inc. has awarded grants totaling $594,500 to 18 leading nonprofit organizations across the country that are working to break the cycle of poverty and hunger by offering culinary training to help unemployed adults develop the skills needed to find and maintain employment in the food service industry.

The National Urban League honored five executives of the Altria family of companies with the prestigious Donald H. McGannon Award during the League’s 2003 Annual Conference here.

Madison County Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Byron today ordered Philip Morris USA to post a bond of $12 billion, the amount of the bond he had originally established, or face enforcement of the $10.1 billion judgment in the Price class action lawsuit.

After nearly five days of deliberations, a Los Angeles County Superior Court jury returned a verdict in favor of the company in a lawsuit brought by Frederic Reller, 64, who had claimed he was unaware of the risks of smoking.

Philip Morris USA said today’s rejection by a Louisiana jury of medical monitoring claims brought by a class of mostly healthy smokers illustrates the flaws in such claims, and more importantly, in tobacco class actions lawsuits.

The National Urban League and Altria Group, Inc. have announced the 2003 launch of the well-received economic empowerment program, Know Your Money™.

Altria Group, Inc. and Liz Claiborne Inc. today announced the launch of Safe@work (http://www.safeatworkcoalition.org), a website that businesses of all sizes can use to develop and implement programs and policies addressing the impact of domestic violence in the workplace.

Philip Morris USA today asked the Illinois Supreme Court to prevent the Price class action plaintiffs from attempting to enforce a $10.1 billion judgment until it decides whether the reduced bond established by the trial court was proper.

An Illinois appellate court today ruled the trial judge exceeded his authority in reducing the bond Philip Morris USA must post to stay enforcement of the $10.1 billion judgment in the Price class action lawsuit, and sent the issue back to the trial court for further consideration.

A federal judge in Nevada has denied class certification in five cases filed by smokers against Philip Morris USA, and the company believes the decision could have a significant impact on similar class-action requests pending in Nevada and elsewhere.

To help end hunger among the nation's frail elderly, Altria has awarded more than $1.2 million in grants to 15 non-profit partnerships across the country through its new Senior Helpings Community Coalitions grant program.

A Missouri Circuit Court jury today returned a unanimous verdict in favor of Philip Morris USA and two other tobacco companies in a case brought by a smoker.

The Whitney Museum of American Art at Altria, a free midtown museum with approximately 100,000 visitors per year, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. The opening in 1983 of this branch of the Whitney Museum marked the first time a corporation established and fully funded a museum as an integral part of its offices.

The Illinois Supreme Court today declined to accept a direct appeal of the $10.1 billion verdict against Philip Morris USA handed down in March by a Madison County Circuit Court in the Price class-action “lights” lawsuit.

A justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court today decertified a ‘lights’ class action alleging Philip Morris USA improperly marketed Marlboro Lights cigarettes. The liability and damages theories were similar to those in the Price class action case, now on appeal in Illinois.

U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler today ruled the Department of Justice claims related to cigarette advertising, marketing, promotions and health warnings in the government’s lawsuit against major American tobacco companies cannot be dismissed from the government’s case at this time.

Philip Morris USA has joined with other tobacco companies and prominent national and state business organizations in asking the Illinois Supreme Court to limit the amount of bond required to stay enforcement of a judgment pending the appeal of an adverse verdict in class action cases or those in which punitive damages are awarded.

Philip Morris USA today asked the Illinois Supreme Court to expedite Philip Morris USA’s effort to overturn the $10.1 billion verdict handed down in March by a Madison County Circuit Court in the Price class action “lights” lawsuit.

An Illinois state court judge today affirmed his earlier decision approving a bond that permits Philip Morris USA to appeal last month’s $10.1 billion verdict in the Price “Lights” class action case.

In recognition of Altria Group, Inc.'s commitment to domestic violence awareness and prevention, Safe Horizon presented its 25th Anniversary Leadership Award to Altria's chairman and chief executive officer Louis C. Camilleri on May 6, 2003.

Philip Morris USA will seek review of the $10.1 billion verdict in the Price class action lawsuit by Illinois appellate courts in light of Madison County Circuit Judge Nicholas Byron’s decision today to affirm his earlier verdict in the case.

Philip Morris USA today asked Madison County Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Byron to overturn the $10.1 billion verdict he issued in the Price class action lawsuit on March 21, or significantly reduce the amount of damages he awarded.

Madison County Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Byron today reduced the size of the bond that Philip Morris USA must provide in order to obtain a stay of execution of the judgment while the Price case is on appeal.

Masterpieces from one of the world’s finest collections of French art will be on view July 27 through October 13 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

A federal appeals court today affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by Blue Cross-Blue Shield subscribers in Tennessee.

Philip Morris USA today asked a Madison County state court to reduce the $12 billion bond required in order to appeal the $10.1 billion Price class action verdict (formerly known as the Miles case) and also petitioned another state court to halt any attempt by Illinois to collect $3 billion in punitive damages awarded to the state.

Philip Morris USA will appeal a state court jury’s decision today to award $6.538 million in compensatory damages to a 74-year-old former smoker because it is inconsistent with the law and the facts of the case.

Altria Group, Inc., the parent company of Kraft Foods Inc., Philip Morris International Inc. and Philip Morris USA Inc., has awarded more than $2.6 million in grants to 123 arts organizations in New York City for the 2002-2003 arts season.

Philip Morris USA Inc. will seek an immediate review of today’s decision by a trial judge in Madison County, Ill. to award a worldwide class of Marlboro Lights and Cambridge Lights smokers $7.1005 billion in compensatory damages.

Philip Morris USA will ask the California Supreme Court to review yesterday’s Henley decision by the California Court of Appeals.

Philip Morris USA Inc., the domestic tobacco subsidiary of Altria Group, Inc., today announced that it will relocate its New York-based corporate headquarters to the Richmond, Virginia area.

Today a U.S. District Court jury returned a verdict in favor of Philip Morris USA Inc. in a case brought by the family of a smoker.

Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal today affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit on behalf of a Peruvian smoker, ruling that Florida was not the proper forum for such a suit.

Thirteen U.S. agricultural organizations will share $260,000 in Shared Solutions^SM Agricultural Contributions grants, awarded by Altria Group, Inc.

Today a Queens Supreme Court jury returned a verdict in favor of Philip Morris USA Inc. in a case brought by the family of a smoker.

Today a four-judge panel of the New York Appellate Division affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit brought in 2000 against Philip Morris USA Inc. and other tobacco companies by 170 New York hospitals seeking damages for costs they allegedly incurred to treat injured smokers.

Today a Dade County Circuit Court jury decided Philip Morris USA and other cigarette makers are not responsible for injuries alleged by a flight attendant as a result of his workplace exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).

A California jury today returned a verdict in favor of Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. in a case brought by a smoker.

The Altria family of companies, through the Shared Solutions^SM Agricultural Initiative, and the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) program are joining forces to develop tomorrow’s agricultural leaders.

Farmers and ranchers are becoming more aware of what consumers want from their food supply system, but must keep working to meet those expectations, according to a new study of U.S. farmer and consumer attitudes.

Today a 12-person Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas jury rejected claims against Philip Morris USA brought by the family of deceased smoker Katie Wimbush Carter following a two-week trial. At least 10 jurors had to agree in order to reach a verdict.

At the end of a three-week trial, on Tuesday, December 31, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., ruling that the plaintiffs had not introduced sufficient evidence to support their claims.