Illinois Circuit Court Judge Nicholas Byron found that the tobacco company intentionally misled smokers into thinking "light" cigarettes were safer than regular cigarettes. He ordered Philip Morris to pay $7.1 billion in compensatory damages to smokers and $3 billion in punitive damages to the state of Illinois.

"I'm gratified that the judge did the right thing based on the evidence in the case," said plaintiffs' lawyer Stephen Tillery.

Philip Morris said it would appeal the ruling.

"Judge Byron has awarded an outrageous amount of money to a group of smokers who claim no injury, smoked cigarettes that were always labeled with government health warnings, and continue to purchase Marlboro Lights despite the claims in the case," said William Ohlemeyer, associate general counsel for Philip Morris USA.

The case, which was filed under the Illinois consumer fraud laws, was the first of its type to reach trial.

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