Tobacco companies have asked the courts to overturn a federal judge's decision to certify a class-action lawsuit centering on the marketing of so-called 'light' cigarettes, the Wall Street Journal reported Oct. 10.

Phillip Morris and other top tobacco firms have appealed the certification to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York. U.S. District Court Judge Jack B. Weinstein allowed the class-action lawsuit to proceed in September; the suit claims that tobacco companies deceived smokers into thinking that so-called "light" cigarettes are less dangerous than regular cigarettes.

"The certification order represents the most extreme example yet of 'the systemic urge to aggregate litigation' that this court has repeatedly warned against," the tobacco companies claimed.

The lawsuit could seek up to $200 billion in damages from cigarette companies.