The Arkansas Democrat Gazette (11/9, Lynch) reports that a Pulaski County Circuit judge gave class-action status Friday to a deceptive-trade practices lawsuit against Philip Morris – now Altria – for its Malboro Lights, and that could create a plaintiff pool of some million or more people in Arkansas who bought Marlboro Lights or Ultra Lights beginning in 1971. Plaintiffs claim the company marketed the cigarettes as safer. The 10-year-old case has already been to the US Supreme Court and the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals on jurisdictional questions. Lead plaintiffs are Wayne Milner and James Easley. The class-action status was granted by Judge Tim Fox.