Supreme Court hears Maine cases
The U.S. Supreme Court today -- the first day of its new term -- will hear oral arguments on two cases that originated in Maine.
The first case stems from a lawsuit filed three years ago by three Mainers accusing Philip Morris USA and its parent company, Altria Group Inc., of deceptive business and unfair advertising practices regarding their "low tar" and "light" cigarettes, according to the Christian Science Monitor. This lawsuit, along with another case from Vermont concerning pharmaceutical companies, will test "whether federal law trumps state consumer-protection policies that let residents sue cigarette and drug makers over the way their goods are described" and, depending on the outcome, could force changes in the way cigarettes and prescription drugs are marketed and labeled, according to Stateline.org.
The second Maine case the country's highest court will consider stems from a lawsuit filed three years ago by 20 nonunion Maine state workers who claim it's unconstitutional for the Service Employees International Union to use their service fees, meant to cover collective bargaining efforts, to subsidize the union's court battles in other states, according to the Bangor Daily News. A decision in this case could have implications for labor unions that represent public employees.
Decisions in the cases aren't expected before next year, according to the Daily News.
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