US appeals court to review light cigarette case

CHICAGO, Nov 17 (Reuters) A US appeals court has decided to review a lower courts ruling that let a 200 billion dollars lawsuit filed by ''light'' cigarette smokers proceed as a class action and stopped proceedings in the lawsuit, a clerk for the court today said.

The stay in the case, Schwab v. Philip Morris USA Inc., was issued as of Thursday, the clerk said. No other details were immediately available.

Defendants in the case include Altria Group Inc.'s Philip Morris USA unit, Reynolds American Inc.'s R.J. Reynolds tobacco Co, Loews Corp.'s Lorillard Tobacco unit; Vector Group Ltd.'s Liggett Group and British American Tobacco Plc's British American Tobacco (Investments) Ltd.

REUTERS SY PM2352