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Judges in the Third Judicial Circuit Court for Madison County, Illinois have certified three separate class action suits brought against the nation's three largest tobacco companies -- Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds Co. and Brown & Williamson Corporation -- on behalf of purchasers of "light" cigarettes in the State of Illinois. The suits allege these companies falsely represented that their "light" cigarettes deliver lowered tar and nicotine in comparison to regular, full-flavor cigarettes when, in fact, "light" cigarettes are by design not significantly lower in tar and nicotine than regular, full-flavor cigarettes when actually smoked. Plaintiffs and the Classes are represented by the Carr Korein Tillery law firm. The Court approved the following Notice to apprise class members of the lawsuits and their rights in the litigation.

LIGHT CIGARETTE LITIGATION

THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT
MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS

Case No. 00-L-112

Susan Miles and Linda J. McHatton, individually and on behalf of all
others similarly situated vs. Philip Morris Companies, Inc. and Philip
Morris Incorporated (the "Miles" action)

Case No. 00-L-113

Julie Turner, Stacie K. Waugh, JoAnn Higdon, Gina M. Hargrave, Carrie S.
Caton, and Scot A. Cooper, individually and on behalf of all others
similarly situated vs R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings, Inc., and R.J.
Reynolds Tobacco Company (the "Turner" action)

Case No. 00-L-136

Sara Howard, Lisa Greene, Gina M. Hargrave, Bonnie R. Laleman, Charlonda
Walker, and Donna Azbill, individually and on behalf of all others
similarly situated vs. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corporation (the
"Howard" action)

NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS

TO: All persons who purchased Marlboro Lights, Cambridge Lights, Misty
Lights, GPC Lights, Capri Lights, Kool Lights, Doral Lights, Winston
Lights, Salem Lights, and Camel Lights cigarettes in Illinois for
personal consumption.

Pursuant to 735 ILCS 5/2-803 and to the order of the Circuit Court of
Madison County, Illinois, you are notified of the following:

WHAT ARE THESE LAWSUITS ABOUT?
These Lawsuits were filed separately in February 2001 in the Circuit Court of Madison County, Illinois. Plaintiffs allege that the Defendants: 1) falsely represented that their "light" cigarettes deliver lowered tar and nicotine in comparison to regular full-flavor cigarettes when in fact "light" cigarettes are by design not significantly lower in tar and nicotine than regular full-flavor cigarettes when actually smoked; and 2) intentionally manipulated the design of their "light" cigarettes in order to maximize nicotine delivery while falsely claiming that the "light" cigarettes have lowered tar and nicotine content. The Defendants deny they have done anything wrong.

Plaintiffs seek money damages relating to the purchase price of light cigarettes from the Defendants for violation of Illinois law.

THE LAWSUITS DO NOT SEEK TO RECOVER MONEY DAMAGES FOR PERSONAL INJURY, ADDICTION OR ANY OTHER HEALTH RELATED CLAIMS.

There has been no trial yet, but the Court has certified each of the cases as a class action. If you have ever purchased Marlboro Lights, Cambridge Lights, Misty Lights, GPC Lights, Capri Lights, Kool Lights, Doral Lights, Winston Lights, Salem Lights, and Camel Lights in the State of Illinois, you may be a part of these class action lawsuits.

WHO IS IN THE CLASS?
The Court has certified the following "Miles" Class as to claims against Philip Morris Incorporated:

All persons who purchased Cambridge Lights and Marlboro Lights in Illinois, for personal consumption, between the first date the Defendants sold Cambridge Lights and Marlboro Lights in Illinois through February 1, 2001.

The Court has certified the following "Turner" Class as to claims against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company:

All persons who purchased Doral Lights, Winston Lights, Salem Lights, and Camel Lights, in Illinois, for personal consumption, between the first date that Defendants sold Doral Lights, Winston Lights, Salem Lights, and Camel Lights in Illinois through November 14, 2001.

The Court has certified the following "Howard" Class as to claims against Brown & Williams Tobacco Corporation:

All persons who purchased Misty Lights, GPC Lights, Capri Lights and Kool Lights in Illinois, for personal consumption, between the first date that Defendant sold Misty Lights, GPC Lights, Capri Lights and Kool Lights in Illinois through December 18, 2001.

Excluded from the Classes are Defendants, any parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or controlled person of Defendants, as well as the officers, directors, agents, servants, or employees of Defendants, and the immediate family members of any such persons. Also, excluded are any trial judges who may preside over these cases.

CLASS COUNSEL
The Court has appointed plaintiffs Susan Miles, Linda McHatton, Julie Turner, Stacie K. Waugh, JoAnn Higdon, Gina M. Hargrave, Carrie S. Caton, Scot A. Cooper, Sara Howard, Lisa Greene, Bonnie R. Laleman, Charlonda Walker, andm Donna Azbill as Class Representatives. Also, the Court has appointed the following attorneys as Class Counsel: Stephen M. Tillery, Carr Korein Tillery, #10 Executive Woods Court, Belleville, IL 62226.

AM I IN ONE OR MORE OF THE CLASSES?
You may be a member of one or more of the Classes, depending on the brands of "light" cigarettes that you purchased:

You are a member of the "Miles" Class if you purchased Marlboro Lights or Cambridge Lights in the State of Illinois between 1971 and February 1, 2001.

You are a member of the "Turner" Class if you purchased Doral Lights, Camel Lights, Winston Lights or Salem Lights in the State of Illinois between 1974 and November 14, 2001.

You are a member of the "Howard" Class if you purchased Misty Lights, GPC Lights, Capri Lights or Kool Lights in the State of Illinois between 1983 and December 18, 2001.

If this describes you, then you are automatically in the Class(es), unless you request to be excluded from the Class(es) (see below).

WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS AND OPTIONS?
If you are a member of one or more of the Classes, you have the right either to remain in the Class(es) or to drop out of the Class(es).

You may remain a member of the Class(es). In order to remain in them Class(es), you do not need to do anything. As a member of the Class(es), your claim against the Defendants will be presented to the Court by the Class Representatives and lawyers appointed by the Court to represent the Classes, but you will not be required to appear in Court or to participate actively in
the Lawsuit(s). Each lawsuit will be presented and tried separately. For each case, if the Class wins or settles the lawsuit and receives a monetary award, the Court will determine the amount of money Class Members are entitled to receive; if the Class loses the lawsuit, then the Class Members will not receive a monetary award.

IF YOU REMAIN A MEMBER OF THE CLASS(ES), YOUR CLAIMS, IF ANY, TO RECOVER MONEY DAMAGES FOR PERSONAL INJURY, ADDICTION OR ANY OTHER HEALTH RELATED CLAIMS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED.

You may drop out of the Class(es). You are under no obligation to remain a Class Member. For each case in which you are a Class Member, if you choose to drop out of the Class, you will not receive any monetary award if the Class wins or settles the Lawsuit. If you choose to drop out of the Class(es), you may have the right to file your own individual claim against the Defendants. If you do not wish to be included in the Class(es), you must mail your written request for exclusion to the address below posted marked no later than September 14, 2002. Your request for exclusion must state that you wish to be excluded from the Class(es) as well as your name, current address, telephone number, and the name of the lawsuit(s) from which you are excluding yourself (Miles v. Philip Morris, Case No. 00-L-112; and/or Turner v. R.J. Reynolds, Case No. 00-L-113; and/or Howard v. Brown & Williamson, Case No. 00-L-136). The request for exclusion should be addressed to: Light Cigarette Litigation, Carr Korein Tillery, #10 Executive Woods Court, Belleville, IL 62226.

WHERE MAY I OBTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION?
This notice is a summary notice of class action lawsuit and is not intended as a complete statement of the litigation. For more information about the Lawsuits, please send your written inquiry to Class Counsel at the address listed above. Additional information is also available on the Internet at http://www.lightcigaretteclassaction.com . PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE
COURT FOR INFORMATION.

BY ORDER OF THE CIRCUIT COURT MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS