A Vermont court has ruled that tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds engaged in deceptive and misleading advertising in promoting its Eclipse brand of "reduced risk" cigarettes from 2000 to 2007.
Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell’s office successfully argued that the tobacco company’s claims that Eclipse might carry less risk of cancer and other diseases than other cigarettes were not backed up by sufficient scientific evidence.
A request for comment from the company drew no immediate reply.
The anti-smoking group Legacy says it expects the Vermont ruling will set a precedent for similar court decisions in other states.