Altria Group's Philip Morris USA lawyer said they were "very surprised" by Tuesday's move.

BBC: NEWS | Business | US slashes tobacco trial penalty

Reynolds and Philip Morris USA say they will appeal the judge's decision to allow the case to proceed.

NPR: Judge OKs Class-Action Suit by 'Light' Smokers

Remember, Altria (parent of Philip Morris USA) had a lot of great years as a stock even after the tobacco litigation.

FORBES: Coke And Pepsi Are Vulnerable To Tax On Soda

The National Association of Attorneys General drafted the 1998 settlement that indemnified the big four cigarette manufacturers- Philip Morris USA, R.

FORBES: Bondholders Likely to Suffer From States' Tobacco-Funding Addiction

Philip Morris USA controls about one half of all domestic cartons sold.

FORBES: Altria Group: E-Cigarettes Or Die?

Tobacco bonds, for the uninitiated, are an offshoot of a 1998 settlement among 46 state attorneys general and four big tobacco companies--Philip Morris USA, R.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Tobacco company Philip Morris USA raised list prices for its major brands by about 71 cents per pack last month "in direct response to the tax increase, " said Bill Phelps, spokesman for Philip Morris' parent company, Altria.

CNN: Smokers feeling abused as federal tax hike hits

"Philip Morris USA does not want kids to smoke cigarettes, " said spokesman David Sylvia, who noted the company has supported "a number of efforts" to reduce youth smoking, including training clerks to check the ages of customers and supporting youth development programs intended to improve decision-making.

WSJ: Smoking Rate Among Teens Stagnates

Early this year Philip Morris' Kraft Foods bought the whey-packed Balance Bar, and its rival Nestl USA snapped up PowerBar.

FORBES: Making Whey