The tobacco industry must pay for smoking-prevention programs in Louisiana, a state appeals court has ruled, but the court cut down a $591-million jury verdict against the industry.
 
The Associated Press reported Feb. 9 that the court ordered the tobacco industry to pay $279 million for smoking cessation, but said that the money should only be used for traditional stop-smoking aids.

The court also limited the class of eligible smokers to those who starting smoking before Louisiana passed its products-liability law in 1988. Originally, the class-action lawsuit defined eligibility as anyone who started smoking before the suit was filed in 1996.

The tobacco industry intends to appeal the reduced verdict, as well.