Despite some tough questioning of the plaintiffs, U.S. District Judge Jack B. Weinstein has certified a class-action lawsuit pitting smokers of so-called 'light' cigarettes against the nation's biggest tobacco firms.

Bloomberg News reported Sept. 25 that Weinstein approved the suit, which will seek up to $200 billion in damages from tobacco companies. The plaintiffs charge that the companies intentionally deceived smokers into thinking that cigarettes branded as "light" and "low-tar" were safer than other cigarettes.

Tobacco companies are likely to appeal the decision; last May, a federal appeals court in New York threw out another class-action lawsuit against the tobacco industry that had been certified by Weinstein.

"Light" cigarettes made up 85 percent of tobacco-industry sales in 2002.

Tobacco stocks fell on the news of Weinstein's decision.