{ "id": 3610642, "name": "PHILIP MORRIS, INC., Petitioner, vs. HON. NICHOLAS G. BYRON, Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, et al, etc. Respondents", "name_abbreviation": "Philip Morris, Inc. v. Byron", "decision_date": "2007-08-22", "docket_number": "No. 104657", "first_page": "416", "last_page": "426", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "226 Ill. 2d 416" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ill.", "id": 8772, "name": "Illinois Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 29, "name_long": "Illinois", "name": "Ill." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "00 L 112", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Lans. Ch.", "year": 2006, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "00 L 112", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Lans. Ch.", "year": 2006, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "79 F.T.C. 225", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.T.C.", "year": 1971, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "119 F.T.C. 3", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.T.C.", "year": 1995, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "219 Ill. 2d 182", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 3598302 ], "weight": 13, "year": 2005, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "258", "parenthetical": "plurality op." }, { "page": "265", "parenthetical": "plurality op." }, { "page": "265", "parenthetical": "plurality op." }, { "page": "274", "parenthetical": "plurality op." }, { "page": "299", "parenthetical": "Freeman, J., dissenting, joined by Kilbride, J." }, { "page": "309-13", "parenthetical": "Freeman, J., dissenting, joined by Kilbride, J." }, { "page": "337", "parenthetical": "Freeman, J., dissenting upon denial of rehearing, joined by Kilbride, J." }, { "page": "263", "parenthetical": "plurality op." }, { "page": "263-65", "parenthetical": "plurality op." }, { "page": "342-52", "parenthetical": "Freeman, J., dissenting upon denial of rehearing, joined by Kilbride, J." }, { "page": "342-52", "parenthetical": "Freeman, J., dissenting upon denial of rehearing, joined by Kilbride, J." }, { "page": "265", "parenthetical": "plurality op." }, { "page": "263-65" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/219/0182-01" ] }, { "cite": "420 F.3d 852", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "F.3d", "case_ids": [ 8940966 ], "year": 2005, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/f3d/420/0852-01" ] }, { "cite": "549 U.S. 1054", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "year": 2006, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "166 L. Ed. 2d 517", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L. Ed. 2d", "year": 2006, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "127 S. Ct. 685", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "S. Ct.", "year": 2006, "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "551 U.S. 142", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 3573471 ], "weight": 3, "year": 2007, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/us/551/0142-01" ] }, { "cite": "196 Ill. 2d 510", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 351222 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2001, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "513", "parenthetical": "and cases therein" }, { "page": "513" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/196/0510-01" ] }, { "cite": "86 Ill. 2d 291", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5468706 ], "year": 1981, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "304-05", "parenthetical": "collecting cases" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/86/0291-01" ] }, { "cite": "336 Ill. App. 3d 83", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 1599256 ], "weight": 2, "year": 2002, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "87" }, { "page": "87", "parenthetical": "and cases cited therein" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/336/0083-01" ] }, { "cite": "266 Ill. App. 3d 88", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 887204 ], "weight": 3, "year": 1994, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "98-99" }, { "page": "98-99", "parenthetical": "affirming circuit court's grant of section 2 - 1203 motion to vacate judgment and consolidate action with another case based on being informed of other judge's rulings" }, { "page": "98-99", "parenthetical": "and cases cited therein" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/266/0088-01" ] }, { "cite": "230 Ill. App. 3d 959", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 5211269 ], "year": 1992, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "967" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/230/0959-01" ] }, { "cite": "213 Ill. App. 3d 622", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 2604197 ], "year": 1991, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "627" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/213/0622-01" ] }, { "cite": "164 Ill. App. 3d 978", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. App. 3d", "case_ids": [ 3581931 ], "year": 1987, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "987" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-app-3d/164/0978-01" ] }, { "cite": "172 Ill. 2d 420", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 55987 ], "year": 1996, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "424-25" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/172/0420-01" ] }, { "cite": "75 Ill. 2d 566", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 2991333 ], "year": 1979, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "570", "parenthetical": "explaining the courts have a duty to examine their jurisdiction even if not raised by the parties" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/75/0566-01" ] }, { "cite": "114 Ill. 2d 538", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill. 2d", "case_ids": [ 5542786 ], "year": 1986, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "540" } ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ill-2d/114/0538-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 884, "char_count": 19878, "ocr_confidence": 0.775, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.03580807328026e-08, "percentile": 0.10336490660266294 }, "sha256": "06da911d7a3a50b168e9422afa8a96730eceefcae227f5cf1137f2cb74193b2b", "simhash": "1:fdbe793cc3280e49", "word_count": 3263 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:47:26.463284+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "PHILIP MORRIS, INC., Petitioner, vs. HON. NICHOLAS G. BYRON, Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, et al, etc. Respondents." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "ORDER\nThis cause coming to be heard on the motion of the petitioner, Philip Morris USA, Inc, an objection having been filed by the respondents Sharon Price, et al, a reply having been filed by the petitioner, and the court being fully advised in the premises;\nIT IS ORDERED that the motion for leave to file a petition for writ of mandamus or prohibition is denied. The motion for supervisory order is allowed. In the exercise of this court\u2019s supervisory authority, the circuit court of Madison County is directed to vacate its order of May 9, 2007, certifying questions for interlocutory appeal pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 308 in Price et al. v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., No. 00 L 112, and to enter an order dismissing plaintiffs\u2019 motion to vacate or withhold final judgment pursuant to section 2 \u2014 1203 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 1203 (West 2006)).\nOrder entered by the Court.\nCHIEF JUSTICE THOMAS took no part.", "type": "majority", "author": null }, { "text": "JUSTICE FREEMAN,\ndissenting:\nThis court allows the motion of Philip Morris USA, Inc., for a supervisory order (188 Ill. 2d R. 383). In the exercise of our supervisory authority, this court directs the circuit court of Madison County to vacate its certification of questions for interlocutory appeal to the appellate court pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 308 in Price v. Philip Morris USA, Inc., No. 00 L 112, and to enter an order dismissing plaintiffs postjudgment motion pursuant to section 2 \u2014 1203 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 1203 (West 2006)). I respectfully dissent.\nI. BACKGROUND\nThe supervisory order in this case is the capstone of a highly publicized class action, which resulted in a multibillion dollar judgment in favor of plaintiffs. Some background is in order to appreciate the significance\u2014 and predictability \u2014 of this court\u2019s unusual action.\nA. Underlying Action\nPlaintiffs brought a class action against Philip Morris USA, Inc. (PMUSA), alleging violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act (Consumer Fraud Act) (815 ILCS 505/1 et seq. (West 1998)) and the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act (Deceptive Practices Act) (815 ILCS 510/1 et seq. (West 1998)). Plaintiffs brought the action on behalf of a class of Illinois residents who had purchased \u201cLight\u201d cigarettes in Illinois since the introduction of Marlboro Lights in 1971. Plaintiffs claimed that the word \u201clights\u201d and the phrase \u201clowered tar and nicotine\u201d were deceptive in that those words led each consumer to believe that he or she would receive lower tar and nicotine from these cigarettes and that, as a result, smoking them would be less hazardous than smoking regular, full-flavored cigarettes. Plaintiffs alleged that all class members purchased Lights because of a belief that those cigarettes were less hazardous and provided health benefits not associated with regular, full-flavored cigarettes, and that no class member would have purchased Lights \u201cbut for\u201d PMUSA\u2019s unfair or deceptive acts or practices. The circuit court certified the class.\nPMUSA asserted as an affirmative defense section 10b(l) of the Consumer Fraud Act, which exempts conduct \u201cspecifically authorized by laws administered by any regulatory body or officer acting under statutory authority of this State or the United States.\u201d 815 ILCS 505/10b(l) (West 1998). In pretrial proceedings and at trial, it was PMUSA\u2019s position, established through testimony and exhibits, that its use of the terms \u201clights\u201d and \u201clowered tar and nicotine\u201d complied with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) policies. Plaintiffs presented evidence that the FTC did not have an official policy that permitted cigarette companies to use these terms.\nThe parties did not dispute that there is no industry-wide formal rulemaking authorizing the use of the disputed descriptors at issue in this case. Further, the FTC does not have any industrywide formal rule that authorizes or requires cigarette manufacturers to use the terms \u201clight\u201d or \u201clow tar\u201d or any variation thereof. Moreover, the FTC views what it considers to be a \u201cregulatory\u201d scheme in this area as a \u201cvoluntary approach.\u201d\nDr. John Peterman, PMUSA\u2019s expert witness, testified, inter alia, that a 1971 agreement between the FTC and a cigarette company, memorialized in a consent order, In re American Brands, Inc., 79 F.T.C. 225 (1971), was \u201can official act of the FTC,\u201d the terms of which provided \u201cindustry guidance to [PMUSA] and others regarding the use of descriptors.\u201d Likewise, according to Peterman, in a 1995 consent order, In re American Tobacco Co., 119 F.T.C. 3 (1995), the FTC intended to provide industry-wide guidance with respect to the use of descriptors.\nAt the close of the trial, the circuit court denied PMUSA\u2019s affirmative defense based on section 10b(l) of the Consumer Fraud Act. Specifically finding Dr. Peter-man\u2019s testimony to be unpersuasive, the circuit court ruled that the descriptors \u201clights\u201d and \u201clowered tar and nicotine\u201d were false and misleading, and that the use of those descriptors has never been specifically authorized by law. The court ruled that PMUSA \u201cvoluntarily chose to use these terms on its packages of Marlboro Lights and Cambridge Lights. No regulatory body has ever required (or even specifically approved) the use of these terms by Philip Morris. The court finds that Philip Morris has not established that its conduct is \u2018specifically authorized\u2019 by law.\u201d The circuit court found in favor of plaintiffs and awarded them damages totaling $10.1 billion.\nThis court took the appeal directly from the circuit court pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 302(b) (134 Ill. 2d R. 302(b)). This court concluded that \u201cthe FTC\u2019s informal regulatory activity, including the use of consent orders, comes within the scope of section 10b(l)\u2019s requirement that the specific authorization be made \u2018by laws administered by\u2019 a state or federal regulatory body.\u201d Price v. Philip Morris, Inc., 219 Ill. 2d 182, 258 (2005) (plurality op.). According to the plurality opinion, through the 1971 and 1995 consent orders, \u201cthe FTC could, and did, specifically authorize all United States tobacco companies to utilize the words \u2018low,\u2019 \u2018lower,\u2019 \u2018reduced\u2019 or like qualifying terms, such as \u2018light,\u2019 so long as the descriptive terms are accompanied by a clear and conspicuous disclosure of the \u2018tar\u2019 and nicotine content in milligrams of the smoke produced by the advertised cigarette.\u201d Price, 219 Ill. 2d at 265 (plurality op.). In the course of reaching this conclusion, the plurality \u201cnote[d] with great interest\u201d Watson v. Philip Morris Cos., No. 4:03 \u2014 CV\u2014519 GTE (E.D. Ark., December 12, 2003), aff\u2019d, 420 F.3d 852 (8th Cir. 2005). After discussing the case, the plurality concluded that \u201cthe federal district court\u2019s detailed analysis does support our conclusion that specific authorization for the use of the disputed descriptors may be found in consent orders rather than in formally promulgated trade regulation rules of the FTC.\u201d Price, 219 Ill. 2d at 265 (plurality op.). This court reversed the judgment and remanded the cause to the circuit court with instructions to dismiss the action. Price, 219 Ill. 2d at 274 (plurality op.).\nDissenting, two justices of this court opined that the FTC\u2019s regulatory activity did not rise to the level of \u201cspecific authorization\u201d for PMUSA to use the disputed descriptors in marketing Marlboro Lights and Cambridge Lights. Price, 219 Ill. 2d at 299 (Freeman, J., dissenting, joined by Kilbride, J.). The dissenters specifically disagreed with the plurality\u2019s treatment of the Watson case. Price, 219 Ill. 2d at 309-13 (Freeman, J., dissenting, joined by Kilbride, J.).\nPlaintiffs filed a petition for rehearing, which was denied by a divided court (see Price, 219 Ill. 2d at 337 (Freeman, J., dissenting upon denial of rehearing, joined by Kilbride, J.)). On November 27, 2006, the United States Supreme Court denied plaintiffs\u2019 petition for a writ of certiorari. Price v. Philip Morris, Inc., 549 U.S. 1054, 166 L. Ed. 2d 517, 127 S. Ct. 685 (2006). On December 5, 2006, this court issued its mandate to the circuit court. On December 18, 2006, the circuit court complied with the instruction of this court and entered an order dismissing the action with prejudice.\nB. Postjudgment Motion\nOn January 17, 2007, plaintiffs filed a postjudgment motion pursuant to section 2 \u2014 1203 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 1203 (West 2006)). The motion noted that on January 12, 2007, the United States Supreme Court had granted certiorari to review Watson v. Philip Morris Co., the case which the Price plurality \u201cnote[d] with great interest.\u201d Price, 219 Ill. 2d at 263 (plurality op.). The section 2 \u2014 1203 motion further noted that the federal government filed an amicus curiae brief in support of the certiorari petition. In its brief, the federal government explained that \u201cthe FTC has neither requested nor required tobacco companies to describe or advertise its cigarettes using [Tight\u2019 or Tow tar\u2019] or any other descriptors.\u201d Brief of United States as Amicus Curiae in Support of Petition for Writ of Certiorari in Watson v. Philip Morris Co., No. 05 \u2014 1284 (U.S. filed December 15, 2006).\nFurther, the record shows that the federal government filed an amicus curiae brief on the merits in Watson, in which the federal government again declared: \u201cThe FTC has never promulgated official regulatory definitions of terms such as \u2018light\u2019 or Tow tar.\u2019 \u201d Indeed, continued the federal government: \u201cFar from issuing detailed and specific regulations that govern respondent\u2019s marketing of light cigarettes, the FTC has not issued any such regulations at all.\u201d Brief of United States as Amicus Curiae Supporting Petitioners in Watson v. Philip Morris Co., No. 05 \u2014 1284 (U.S. filed February 26, 2007).\nOn May 2, 2007, the circuit court held a hearing on plaintiffs\u2019 section 2 \u2014 1203 postjudgment motion. The court stated that it would not take any action to disturb the judgment, but would certify the question of whether it had jurisdiction to consider the merits of the motion. On May 9, 2007, the circuit court certified the following questions for interlocutory appeal pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 308 (134 Ill. 2d R. 308):\n\u201c(1) May a circuit court vacate or set aside a judgment, which the Illinois Supreme Court directed the court to enter, within 30 days of its entry based on the discovery of new evidence which was unavailable before the judgment was entered if the newly discovered evidence discloses an error of fact upon which the judgment was based?\n(2) May a circuit court vacate or set aside a judgment which the Illinois Supreme Court directed the court to enter, if a subsequent United States Supreme Court decision makes plain that the basis for the judgment was erroneous?\n(3) May a circuit court hear and rule on a motion to return to a party documents filed under seal with the circuit court pursuant to a protective order after the court has entered judgment as directed by the Illinois Supreme Court?\u201d\nThe record further shows that on June 11, 2007, the United States Supreme Court handed down Watson v. Philip Morris Cos., 551 U.S. 142, 168 L. Ed. 2d 42, 127 S. Ct. 2301 (2007), reversing the decisions of the lower courts, which the plurality opinion in Price discussed with approval. Price, 219 Ill. 2d at 263-65 (plurality op.). On May 17, 2007, Philip Morris filed its motion for a supervisory order.\nII. ANALYSIS\nThe case law of this court clearly establishes that, beyond our leave to appeal docket, the use of supervisory orders is disfavored. See People ex rel. Birkett v. Bakalis, 196 Ill. 2d 510, 513 (2001) (and cases therein). Generally, this court will not issue a supervisory order absent a finding that (i) the normal appellate process will not afford adequate relief, (ii) the dispute involves a matter important to the administration of justice, or (iii) our intervention is necessary in order to prevent an inferior tribunal from acting beyond the scope of its authority. See Bakalis, 196 Ill. 2d at 513. None of these circumstances are present in this case.\nAs an initial matter, the use of a supervisory order in this case is unnecessary because the circuit court has not acted beyond the scope of its authority. The circuit court had jurisdiction over the parties because our mandate in Price reinvested the court with jurisdiction. PSL Realty Co. v. Granite Investment Co., 86 Ill. 2d 291, 304-05 (1981) (collecting cases). Pursuant to that mandate, the circuit court, in fact, entered the judgment as directed by this court. Thus, the circuit court has complied with this court\u2019s mandate. What this application for supervisory authority turns on is what happened after the court complied with the mandate.\nSubsequent to the circuit court\u2019s entry of judgment in compliance with this court\u2019s mandate, plaintiffs filed a motion for postjudgment relief pursuant to section 2 \u2014 1203 of the Code of Civil Procedure (735 ILCS 5/2\u2014 1203 (West 2006)). Section 2 \u2014 1203 provides as follows:\n\u201cMotions after judgment in non-jury cases, (a) In all cases tried without a jury, any party may, within 30 days after the entry of the judgment or within any further time the court may allow within the 30 days or any extensions thereof, file a motion for a rehearing, or a retrial, or modification of the judgment or to vacate the judgment or for other relief.\n(b) A motion filed in apt time stays enforcement of the judgment.\u201d 735 ILCS 5/2 \u2014 1203 (West 2006).\nOne purpose of a section 2 \u2014 1203 postjudgment motion is to alert the circuit court to errors it has made and to afford an opportunity for their correction. See In re Marriage of King, 336 Ill. App. 3d 83, 87 (2002); Federal Kemper Life Assurance Co. v. Eichwedel, 266 Ill. App. 3d 88, 98-99 (1994); Regas v. Associated Radiologists, Ltd., 230 Ill. App. 3d 959, 967 (1992). Another recognized purpose of a section 2 \u2014 1203 motion is to bring to the court\u2019s attention newly discovered evidence which was not available at the time of trial, changes in the law, or errors in the court\u2019s previous application of existing law. See Korogluyan v. Chicago Title & Trust Co., 213 Ill. App. 3d 622, 627 (1991); Kaiser v. MEPC American Properties, Inc., 164 Ill. App. 3d 978, 987 (1987). Information cognizable under a section 2 \u2014 1203 motion includes actions taken by other courts. See, e.g., Federal Kemper Life, 266 Ill. App. 3d at 98-99 (affirming circuit court\u2019s grant of section 2 \u2014 1203 motion to vacate judgment and consolidate action with another case based on being informed of other judge\u2019s rulings). The motion is addressed to the circuit court\u2019s sound discretion. Whether a trial court has abused its discretion turns on whether the court\u2019s refusal to vacate violates the moving party\u2019s right to fundamental justice and manifests an improper application of discretion. See In re Marriage of King, 336 Ill. App. 3d at 87 (and cases cited therein); Federal Kemper Life, 266 Ill. App. 3d at 98-99 (and cases cited therein). Relevant here, section 2 \u2014 1203 makes no distinction between those judgments entered before an appeal and those entered after an appeal.\nRather than rule on the motion, the circuit court questioned its jurisdiction to consider the motion. Such an action accords with the notion that a court is obligated to consider its jurisdiction. See Trent v. Winningham, 172 Ill. 2d 420, 424-25 (1996); Eastern v. Canty, 75 Ill. 2d 566, 570 (1979) (explaining the courts have a duty to examine their jurisdiction even if not raised by the parties). The circuit court stated that it would not disturb the judgment entered pursuant to this court\u2019s mandate but, instead, would certify the question of its jurisdiction to entertain the postjudgment motion.\nSupreme Court Rule 308 governs certified questions. Merely because a circuit court certifies a question of law to the appellate court does not mean that the reviewing court must consider it. Whether the appeal proceeds is discretionary with the appellate court. In my view, the appellate court is quite capable of exercising its discretion pursuant to our Rule 308 (155 Ill. 2d R. 308, Committee Comments, at xcvii (noting that \u201c[t]he appellate courts themselves can insure that this authority to allow interlocutory appeals is not abused\u201d)). As such, the normal appellate process is adequate to address the question raised in this motion and thus use of a supervisory order is unwarranted. It has been the long-standing policy of this court that \u201capplications to this court for original actions of mandamus and prohibition or for supervisory orders should not be allowed as a way of circumventing the normal appellate process.\u201d Moore v. Strayhorn, 114 Ill. 2d 538, 540 (1986).\nThis matter will have no impact on the procedural administration of the courts. Rather, as I have shown, this is a routine, discretionary appeal. In light of the circumstances of the case and the circuit court\u2019s actions so far, I do not believe that the question presented here can be characterized as being of such importance to the administration of justice that it necessitates this court\u2019s exercise of supervisory authority.\nThe court\u2019s action today is entirely predictable because it quickly and quietly closes the book on a case that a majority of this court, I am sure, would rather forget. Had the court taken steps on rehearing to learn more about the various FTC actions that exist and thus render a more informed opinion, as I suggested at the time (Price, 219 Ill. 2d at 342-52 (Freeman, J., dissenting upon denial of rehearing, joined by Kilbride, J.)), we would not be in the situation that we are in today. I warned, in my dissent on denial of rehearing, that the court\u2019s suspect analysis with respect to the doctrine of primary jurisdiction would prove embarrassing over time. Price, 219 Ill. 2d at 342-52 (Freeman, J., dissenting upon denial of rehearing, joined by Kilbride, J.). And indeed, time has not been kind to the plurality\u2019s conclusion that the FTC had \u201cspecifically authorize^]\u201d PMUSA\u2019s use of the terms \u201clights\u201d and \u201clower tar.\u201d Price, 219 Ill. 2d at 265 (plurality op.). The first shot across the bow was fired on December 16, 2006, when the federal government filed its amicus brief in support of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court in the Watson case. Then, several months later in the same case, on February 26, 2007, the federal government, in its amicus brief, told the Supreme Court that \u201c(1) the FTC has never required tobacco companies to use the Cambridge Method to determine tar levels or to report the results of those tests in advertising; (2) the FTC has never adopted any official regulatory definitions of the terms \u2018light,\u2019 or Tow tar\u2019; and (3) the FTC has neither requested nor required tobacco companies to describe or advertise their cigarettes using those or any other such descriptors.\u201d (Emphases added.) Next, on June 11, 2007, the United States Supreme Court unanimously reversed the decisions of the lower courts in Watson, upon which the plurality found support for its conclusions. Price, 219 Ill. 2d at 263-65. And just a few weeks ago, the United States Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee approved a bill which would \u201cfor the first time allow federal regulation of cigarettes.\u201d (Emphasis added.) M. Jalonick, Senate Committee Approves Tobacco Regulation, Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, August 1, 2007, at 1. Given this turn of events, it is hardly surprising to see the court grant supervisory relief despite Philip Morris\u2019 utter failure to satisfy the criteria for this extraordinary remedy.\nFor the foregoing reasons, I respectfully dissent from the issuance of a supervisory order.\nJUSTICE KILBRIDE joins in this dissent.", "type": "dissent", "author": "JUSTICE FREEMAN," } ], "attorneys": [], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "(No. 104657.\nIN THE SUPREME COURT OF ILLINOIS\nPHILIP MORRIS, INC., Petitioner, vs. HON. NICHOLAS G. BYRON, Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit, et al, etc. Respondents.\n[August 22, 2007]" }, "file_name": "0416-01", "first_page_order": 428, "last_page_order": 438 }