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Contingencies | 3 Months Ended
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Mar. 31, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] |
Contingencies | Contingencies: Legal proceedings covering a wide range of matters are pending or threatened in various United States and foreign jurisdictions against Altria and its subsidiaries, including PM USA and UST and its subsidiaries, as well as their respective indemnitees. Various types of claims may be raised in these proceedings, including product liability, consumer protection, antitrust, tax, contraband shipments, patent infringement, employment matters, claims for contribution and claims of competitors, shareholders or distributors. Litigation is subject to uncertainty and it is possible that there could be adverse developments in pending or future cases. An unfavorable outcome or settlement of pending tobacco-related or other litigation could encourage the commencement of additional litigation. Damages claimed in some tobacco-related and other litigation are or can be significant and, in certain cases, have ranged in the billions of dollars. The variability in pleadings in multiple jurisdictions, together with the actual experience of management in litigating claims, demonstrate that the monetary relief that may be specified in a lawsuit bears little relevance to the ultimate outcome. In certain cases, plaintiffs claim that defendants’ liability is joint and several. In such cases, Altria or its subsidiaries may face the risk that one or more co-defendants decline or otherwise fail to participate in the bonding required for an appeal or to pay their proportionate or jury-allocated share of a judgment. As a result, Altria or its subsidiaries under certain circumstances may have to pay more than their proportionate share of any bonding- or judgment-related amounts. Furthermore, in those cases where plaintiffs are successful, Altria or its subsidiaries may also be required to pay interest and attorneys’ fees. Although PM USA has historically been able to obtain required bonds or relief from bonding requirements in order to prevent plaintiffs from seeking to collect judgments while adverse verdicts have been appealed, there remains a risk that such relief may not be obtainable in all cases. This risk has been substantially reduced given that 47 states and Puerto Rico limit the dollar amount of bonds or require no bond at all. As discussed below, however, tobacco litigation plaintiffs have challenged the constitutionality of Florida’s bond cap statute in several cases and plaintiffs may challenge state bond cap statutes in other jurisdictions as well. Such challenges may include the applicability of state bond caps in federal court. States, including Florida, may also seek to repeal or alter bond cap statutes through legislation. Although Altria cannot predict the outcome of such challenges, it is possible that the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria, or one or more of its subsidiaries, could be materially affected in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year by an unfavorable outcome of one or more such challenges. Altria and its subsidiaries record provisions in the condensed consolidated financial statements for pending litigation when they determine that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. At the present time, while it is reasonably possible that an unfavorable outcome in a case may occur, except to the extent discussed elsewhere in this Note 12. Contingencies: (i) management has concluded that it is not probable that a loss has been incurred in any of the pending tobacco-related cases; (ii) management is unable to estimate the possible loss or range of loss that could result from an unfavorable outcome in any of the pending tobacco-related cases; and (iii) accordingly, management has not provided any amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements for unfavorable outcomes, if any. Litigation defense costs are expensed as incurred. Altria and its subsidiaries have achieved substantial success in managing litigation. Nevertheless, litigation is subject to uncertainty and significant challenges remain. It is possible that the consolidated results of operations, cash flows or financial position of Altria, or one or more of its subsidiaries, could be materially affected in a particular fiscal quarter or fiscal year by an unfavorable outcome or settlement of certain pending litigation. Altria and each of its subsidiaries named as a defendant believe, and each has been so advised by counsel handling the respective cases, that it has valid defenses to the litigation pending against it, as well as valid bases for appeal of adverse verdicts. Each of the companies has defended, and will continue to defend, vigorously against litigation challenges. However, Altria and its subsidiaries may enter into settlement discussions in particular cases if they believe it is in the best interests of Altria to do so. Overview of Altria and/or PM USA Tobacco-Related Litigation Types and Number of Cases Claims related to tobacco products generally fall within the following categories: (i) smoking and health cases alleging personal injury brought on behalf of individual plaintiffs; (ii) smoking and health cases primarily alleging personal injury or seeking court-supervised programs for ongoing medical monitoring and purporting to be brought on behalf of a class of individual plaintiffs, including cases in which the aggregated claims of a number of individual plaintiffs are to be tried in a single proceeding; (iii) health care cost recovery cases brought by governmental (both domestic and foreign) plaintiffs seeking reimbursement for health care expenditures allegedly caused by cigarette smoking and/or disgorgement of profits; (iv) class action suits alleging that the uses of the terms “Lights” and “Ultra Lights” constitute deceptive and unfair trade practices, common law or statutory fraud, unjust enrichment, breach of warranty or violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”); and (v) other tobacco-related litigation described below. Plaintiffs’ theories of recovery and the defenses raised in pending smoking and health, health care cost recovery and “Lights/Ultra Lights” cases are discussed below. The table below lists the number of certain tobacco-related cases pending in the United States against PM USA and, in some instances, Altria as of April 22, 2019, April 23, 2018 and April 27, 2017:
| April 22, 2019 |  | April 23, 2018 |  | April 27, 2017
Individual Smoking and Health Cases (1) | 98 |  | 102 |  | 80
Smoking and Health Class Actions and Aggregated Claims Litigation (2) | 2 |  | 4 |  | 5
Health Care Cost Recovery Actions (3) | 1 |  | 1 |  | 1
“Lights/Ultra Lights” Class Actions | 2 |  | 3 |  | 5
(1) Includes 29 cases filed in Massachusetts and 38 non-Engle cases filed in Florida. Does not include individual smoking and health cases brought by or on behalf of plaintiffs in Florida state and federal courts following the decertification of the Engle case (these Engle progeny cases are discussed below in Smoking and Health Litigation - Engle Class Action). Also does not include 1,490 cases brought by flight attendants seeking compensatory damages for personal injuries allegedly caused by exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (“ETS”). The flight attendants allege that they are members of an ETS smoking and health class action in Florida, which was settled in 1997 (Broin). The terms of the court-approved settlement in that case allowed class members to file individual lawsuits seeking compensatory damages, but prohibited them from seeking punitive damages. In March 2018, 923 of these cases were voluntarily dismissed without prejudice. (2) The 2017 pending cases include as one case the 30 civil actions that were to be tried in six consolidated trials in West Virginia (In re: Tobacco Litigation). PM USA was a defendant in nine of the 30 cases. The parties resolved these cases for an immaterial amount and in the second quarter of 2018, the court dismissed all 30 cases. (3) See Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation - Federal Government’s Lawsuit below. International Tobacco-Related Cases As of April 22, 2019, PM USA is a named defendant in 10 health care cost recovery actions in Canada, eight of which also name Altria as a defendant. PM USA and Altria are also named defendants in seven smoking and health class actions filed in various Canadian provinces. See Guarantees and Other Similar Matters below for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement between Altria and Philip Morris International Inc. (“PMI”) that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products. Tobacco-Related Cases Set for Trial As of April 22, 2019, 4 Engle progeny cases are set for trial through June 30, 2019. In addition, there are no individual smoking and health cases against PM USA set for trial during this period. Cases against other companies in the tobacco industry may also be scheduled for trial during this period. Trial dates are subject to change. Trial Results Since January 1999, excluding the Engle progeny cases (separately discussed below), verdicts have been returned in 65 smoking and health, “Lights/Ultra Lights” and health care cost recovery cases in which PM USA was a defendant. Verdicts in favor of PM USA and other defendants were returned in 43 of the 65 cases. These 43 cases were tried in Alaska (1), California (7), Connecticut (1), Florida (10), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (3), Mississippi (1), Missouri (4), New Hampshire (1), New Jersey (1), New York (5), Ohio (2), Pennsylvania (1), Rhode Island (1), Tennessee (2) and West Virginia (2). A motion for a new trial was granted in one of the cases in Florida and in the case in Alaska. In the Alaska case (Hunter), the jury returned a verdict in favor of PM USA in April 2018 in the third trial of this case. In May 2018, plaintiff filed a motion for a new trial, which the court denied. Of the 22 non-Engle progeny cases in which verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs, 20 have reached final resolution. See Smoking and Health Litigation - Engle Progeny Trial Results below for a discussion of verdicts in state and federal Engle progeny cases involving PM USA as of April 22, 2019. Judgments Paid and Provisions for Tobacco and Health Litigation Items (Including Engle Progeny Litigation) After exhausting all appeals in those cases resulting in adverse verdicts associated with tobacco-related litigation, since October 2004, PM USA has paid in the aggregate judgments and settlements (including related costs and fees) totaling approximately $668 million and interest totaling approximately $211 million as of March 31, 2019. These amounts include payments for Engle progeny judgments (and related costs and fees) totaling approximately $276 million and interest totaling approximately $49 million. The changes in Altria’s accrued liability for tobacco and health litigation items, including related interest costs, for the periods specified below are as follows:
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, |
| 2019 |  | 2018 |
| (in millions)
Accrued liability for tobacco and health litigation items at beginning of period (1) | $ | 112 |  |  | $ | 106 |  |
Pre-tax charges for: |  |  |  |
Tobacco and health litigation | 15 |  |  | 24 |  |
Related interest costs | 2 |  |  | 4 |  |
Payments (1) | (109 | ) |  | (23 | ) |
Accrued liability for tobacco and health litigation items at end of period (1) | $ | 20 |  |  | $ | 111 |  |
(1) Includes amounts related to the costs of implementing the corrective communications remedy related to the Federal Government’s Lawsuit discussed below. The accrued liability for tobacco and health litigation items, including related interest costs, was included in liabilities on Altria’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. Pre-tax charges for tobacco and health litigation were included in marketing, administration and research costs on Altria’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings. Pre-tax charges for related interest costs were included in interest and other debt expense, net on Altria’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings. Security for Judgments To obtain stays of judgments pending appeal, PM USA has posted various forms of security. As of March 31, 2019, PM USA has posted appeal bonds totaling approximately $103 million, which have been collateralized with restricted cash that are included in assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Smoking and Health Litigation Overview Plaintiffs’ allegations of liability in smoking and health cases are based on various theories of recovery, including negligence, gross negligence, strict liability, fraud, misrepresentation, design defect, failure to warn, nuisance, breach of express and implied warranties, breach of special duty, conspiracy, concert of action, violations of deceptive trade practice laws and consumer protection statutes, and claims under the federal and state anti-racketeering statutes. Plaintiffs in the smoking and health cases seek various forms of relief, including compensatory and punitive damages, treble/multiple damages and other statutory damages and penalties, creation of medical monitoring and smoking cessation funds, disgorgement of profits, and injunctive and equitable relief. Defenses raised in these cases include lack of proximate cause, assumption of the risk, comparative fault and/or contributory negligence, statutes of limitations and preemption by the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act. Non-Engle Progeny Litigation Summarized below are the non-Engle progeny smoking and health cases pending during 2019 in which a verdict was returned in favor of plaintiff and against PM USA. Charts listing certain verdicts for plaintiffs in the Engle progeny cases can be found in Smoking and Health Litigation - Engle Progeny Trial Results below. Capone: In December 2018, a jury in a Florida state court returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff, awarding $225,000 in compensatory damages. In the first quarter of 2019, PM USA recorded a provision on its condensed consolidated balance sheet of approximately $325,000 for the judgment and related costs and paid this amount in April 2019, concluding this litigation. Gentile: In October 2017, a jury in a Florida state court returned a verdict in favor of plaintiff, awarding approximately $7.1 million in compensatory damages and allocating 75% of the fault to PM USA (an amount of approximately $5.3 million). In April 2018, the trial court entered final judgment in favor of plaintiff. In May 2018, PM USA filed a notice of appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal. Federal Government’s Lawsuit: See Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation - Federal Government’s Lawsuit below for a discussion of the verdict and post-trial developments in the United States of America health care cost recovery case. Engle Class Action In July 2000, in the second phase of the Engle smoking and health class action in Florida, a jury returned a verdict assessing punitive damages totaling approximately $145 billion against various defendants, including $74 billion against PM USA. Following entry of judgment, PM USA appealed. In May 2003, the Florida Third District Court of Appeal reversed the judgment entered by the trial court and instructed the trial court to order the decertification of the class. Plaintiffs petitioned the Florida Supreme Court for further review. In July 2006, the Florida Supreme Court ordered that the punitive damages award be vacated, that the class approved by the trial court be decertified and that members of the decertified class could file individual actions against defendants within one year of issuance of the mandate. The court further declared the following Phase I findings are entitled to res judicata effect in such individual actions brought within one year of the issuance of the mandate: (i) that smoking causes various diseases; (ii) that nicotine in cigarettes is addictive; (iii) that defendants’ cigarettes were defective and unreasonably dangerous; (iv) that defendants concealed or omitted material information not otherwise known or available knowing that the material was false or misleading or failed to disclose a material fact concerning the health effects or addictive nature of smoking; (v) that defendants agreed to misrepresent information regarding the health effects or addictive nature of cigarettes with the intention of causing the public to rely on this information to their detriment; (vi) that defendants agreed to conceal or omit information regarding the health effects of cigarettes or their addictive nature with the intention that smokers would rely on the information to their detriment; (vii) that all defendants sold or supplied cigarettes that were defective; and (viii) that defendants were negligent. In August 2006, PM USA and plaintiffs sought rehearing from the Florida Supreme Court on parts of its July 2006 opinion. In December 2006, the Florida Supreme Court refused to revise its July 2006 ruling, except that it revised the set of Phase I findings entitled to res judicata effect by excluding finding (v) listed above (relating to agreement to misrepresent information), and added the finding that defendants sold or supplied cigarettes that, at the time of sale or supply, did not conform to the representations of fact made by defendants. In January 2007, the Florida Supreme Court issued the mandate from its revised opinion. In May 2007, defendants filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court, which was denied. In February 2008, the trial court decertified the class. Engle Progeny Cases The deadline for filing Engle progeny cases expired in January 2008. As of April 22, 2019, approximately 2,000 state court cases were pending against PM USA or Altria asserting individual claims by or on behalf of approximately 2,600 state court plaintiffs. Because of a number of factors, including, docketing delays, duplicated filings and overlapping dismissal orders, these numbers are estimates. While the Federal Engle Agreement (discussed below) resolved nearly all Engle progeny cases pending in federal court, as of April 22, 2019, approximately 4 cases were pending against PM USA in federal court representing the cases excluded from that agreement. Agreement to Resolve Federal Engle Progeny Cases In 2015, PM USA, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company (“R.J. Reynolds”) and Lorillard Tobacco Company (“Lorillard”) resolved approximately 415 pending federal Engle progeny cases (the “Federal Engle Agreement”). Federal cases that were in trial and those that previously reached final verdict were not included in the Federal Engle Agreement. Engle Progeny Trial Results As of April 22, 2019, 130 federal and state Engle progeny cases involving PM USA have resulted in verdicts since the Florida Supreme Court Engle decision. Seventy-three verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs and seven verdicts (Skolnick, Calloway, McCoy, Gloger, Duignan, Caprio and Oshinsky-Blacker) that were initially returned in favor of plaintiffs were reversed post-trial or on appeal and remain pending. Skolnick was remanded for a new trial on plaintiff’s concealment and conspiracy claims; Calloway was reversed and remanded for a new trial on an appellate finding that improper arguments by plaintiff’s counsel deprived defendants of a fair trial; McCoy and Gloger were reversed and remanded for a new trial on appellate findings that the trial court erred in admitting certain materials into evidence that deprived defendants of fair trials; Duignan was reversed and remanded for a new trial on an appellate finding that the trial judge erred in responding to a question from the jury during deliberations; Caprio was reversed post-trial after defendants agreed to voluntarily dismiss their appeal in exchange for a full retrial; and Oshinsky-Blacker was reversed post-trial based on plaintiff’s counsel’s improper arguments at trial. Forty-six verdicts were returned in favor of PM USA, of which 41 were state cases. In addition, there have been a number of mistrials, only some of which have resulted in new trials as of April 22, 2019. Four verdicts (Pearson, D. Cohen, Collar and Chacon) that were returned in favor of PM USA were subsequently reversed for new trials. Juries in two cases (Reider and Banks) returned zero damages verdicts in favor of PM USA. Juries in two other cases (Weingart and Hancock) returned verdicts against PM USA awarding no damages, but the trial court in each case decided to award the plaintiffs damages. One case, Pollari, resulted in a verdict in favor of PM USA following a retrial of an initial verdict returned in favor of plaintiff. Plaintiff has filed a motion for a new trial. The charts below list the verdicts and post-trial developments in certain Engle progeny cases in which verdicts were returned in favor of plaintiffs. The first chart lists such cases that are pending as of April 22, 2019 where PM USA has recorded a provision in its condensed consolidated financial statements because an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated; the second chart lists other such cases that are pending as of April 22, 2019 but where an unfavorable outcome is not probable and the amount of loss cannot be reasonably estimated; and the third chart lists other such cases that have concluded within the previous 12 months. Unless otherwise noted for a particular case, the jury’s award for compensatory damages will not be reduced by any finding of plaintiff’s comparative fault (see Engle Progeny Appellate Issues below for a discussion of the Florida Supreme Court’s decision in Schoeff). Further, the damages noted reflect adjustments based on post-trial or appellate rulings.
Currently Pending Engle Cases with Accrued Liabilities (rounded to nearest $ million)
Plaintiff | Verdict Date | Defendant(s) | Court | Compensatory Damages (All Defendants) | Punitive Damages (PM USA) | Appeal Status | Accrual(1)
Berger (Cote) | September 2014 | PM USA | Federal Court - Middle District of Florida | $6 million | $21 million | The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the punitive and compensatory damages awards and remanded the case to the district court. PM USA’s challenge to the punitive damages award in the district court is pending. | $6 million accrual in the fourth quarter of 2018
(1)Accrual amounts include interest and associated costs, if applicable. For cases with multiple defendants, if any, accrual amounts reflect the portion of compensatory damages PM USA believes it will have to pay if the case is ultimately decided in plaintiff’s favor after taking into account any portion potentially payable by the other defendant(s).
Other Currently Pending Engle Cases with Verdicts Against PM USA (rounded to nearest $ million)
Plaintiff | Verdict Date | Defendant(s) | Court | Compensatory Damages(1) | Punitive Damages (PM USA) | Appeal Status
McCall | March 2019 | PM USA | Broward | <$1 million (<$1 million PM USA) | <$1 million | New trial ordered on punitive damages.
Neff | March 2019 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Broward | $4 million | $2 million | Post-trial motions pending.
Frogel | March 2019 | PM USA | Palm Beach | <$1 million (<$1 million PM USA) | $0 | Post-trial motions pending.
Mahfuz | February 2019 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Broward | $12 million | $10 million | Post-trial motions pending.
Holliman | February 2019 | PM USA | Miami-Dade | $3 million | $0 | Post-trial motions pending.
Other Currently Pending Engle Cases with Verdicts Against PM USA (rounded to nearest $ million)
Plaintiff | Verdict Date | Defendant(s) | Court | Compensatory Damages(1) | Punitive Damages (PM USA) | Appeal Status
Chadwell | September 2018 | PM USA | Miami-Dade | $2 million | $0 | Appeals by plaintiff and defendant to Third District Court of Appeal pending.
Kaplan | July 2018 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Broward | $2 million | $2 million | Appeals by plaintiff and defendants to Fourth District Court of Appeal pending.
Landi | June 2018 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Broward | $8 million | $5 million | Appeals by plaintiff and defendants to Fourth District Court of Appeal pending.
Theis | May 2018 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Sarasota | $7 million | $10 million | Defendants’ appeal to Second District Court of Appeal pending.
Freeman | March 2018 | PM USA | Alachua | $4 million | $0 | Defendant’s appeal to First District Court of Appeal pending.
Gloger | February 2018 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Miami-Dade | $8 million | $5 million | Third District Court of Appeal reversed judgment and ordered a new trial; plaintiff’s motion for rehearing pending.
Bryant | December 2017 | PM USA | Escambia | <$1 million | <$1 million | Defendant’s appeal to First District Court of Appeal pending.
R. Douglas | November 2017 | PM USA | Duval | <$1 million | $0 | Awaiting entry of final judgment by the trial court.
Wallace | October 2017 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Brevard | $12 million | $16 million | Fifth District Court of Appeal affirmed trial court judgment.
Sommers | April 2017 | PM USA | Miami-Dade | $1 million | $0 | New trial ordered on punitive damages; appeals by plaintiff and defendant to Third District Court of Appeal pending.
Santoro | March 2017 | PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Liggett Group | Broward | $2 million | $0 | Trial court set aside punitive damages award; appeals by plaintiff and defendants to Fourth District Court of Appeal pending.
Cooper | September 2015 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Broward | $5 million (<$1 million PM USA) | $0 | Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed judgment and granted a new trial on punitive damages.
McCoy | July 2015 | PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard | Broward | $2 million (<$1 million PM USA) | $3 million | Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed judgment and ordered a new trial; plaintiff requested review by the Florida Supreme Court; case currently stayed.
D. Brown | January 2015 | PM USA | Federal Court - Middle District of Florida | $8 million | $9 million | Appeal to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit pending.
Kerrivan | October 2014 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Federal Court - Middle District of Florida | $16 million | $16 million | Appeals by plaintiff and defendants to U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit pending.
Harris | July 2014 | PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard | Federal Court - Middle District of Florida | $2 million (<$ 1 million PM USA) | $0 | Awaiting entry of amended final judgment applying comparative fault.
(1)PM USA’s portion of the compensatory damages award is noted parenthetically where the court has ruled that comparative fault applies.
Engle Cases Concluded Within Past 12 Months (rounded to nearest $ million)
Plaintiff | Verdict Date | Defendant(s) | Court | Accrual Date | Payment Amount (if any) | Payment Date
J. Brown | February 2017 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Pinellas | First quarter of 2019 | $4 million | April 2019
L. Martin | May 2017 | PM USA | Miami-Dade | First quarter of 2019 | $2 million | April 2019
Danielson | November 2015 | PM USA | Escambia | First quarter of 2019 | $3 million | March 2019
S. Martin | November 2016 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Broward | First quarter of 2019 | $5 million | March 2019
Searcy | April 2013 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Federal Court - Middle District of Florida | Third quarter of 2018 | $2 million | March 2019
Boatright | November 2014 | PM USA and Liggett Group | Polk | Second quarter of 2018 | $42 million | March 2019
M. Brown | May 2015 | PM USA | Duval | Second quarter of 2018 | $8 million | March 2019
Jordan | August 2015 | PM USA | Duval | Second quarter of 2018 | $11 million | March 2019
Pardue | December 2016 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Alachua | Second and Third quarters of 2018 | $11 million | March 2019
McKeever | February 2015 | PM USA | Broward | Fourth quarter of 2017 | $21 million | March 2019
Boulter | December 2018 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Lee | Fourth quarter of 2018 | <$1 million | January 2019
Simon | September 2018 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Broward | Fourth quarter of 2018 | <$1 million | October 2018
Perrotto | November 2014 | PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard | Palm Beach | Third quarter of 2018 | $1 million | September 2018
Gore | March 2015 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Indian River | First quarter of 2018 | $1 million | September 2018
Putney | April 2010 | PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Liggett Group | Broward | Third quarter of 2018 | $5 million | September 2018
Sermons | July 2016 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Duval | Third quarter of 2018 | <$1 million | August 2018
Tognoli | November 2015 | PM USA | Broward | Fourth quarter of 2017 | $1 million | May 2018
Howles | November 2016 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Broward | First quarter of 2018 | $6 million | May 2018
Purdo | April 2016 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Palm Beach | First quarter of 2018 | $10 million | May 2018
Griffin | June 2014 | PM USA | Federal Court - Middle District of Florida | Second quarter of 2017 | $1 million | May 2018
Ledoux | December 2015 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Miami-Dade | Fourth quarter of 2017 | $20 million | May 2018
Burkhart | May 2014 | PM USA, R.J. Reynolds and Lorillard | Federal Court - Middle District of Florida | Second quarter of 2018 | $2 million | May 2018
Engle Cases Concluded Within Past 12 Months (rounded to nearest $ million)
Plaintiff | Verdict Date | Defendant(s) | Court | Accrual Date | Payment Amount (if any) | Payment Date
Barbose | November 2015 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Pasco | Fourth quarter of 2017 | $12 million | May 2018
Allen | November 2014 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Duval | First quarter of 2018 | $10 million | May 2018
Ahrens | February 2016 | PM USA and R.J. Reynolds | Pinellas | Fourth quarter of 2017 | $7 million | May 2018
Engle Progeny Appellate Issues In Douglas, an Engle progeny case against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds, in March 2012, the Florida Second District Court of Appeal issued a decision affirming the judgment of the trial court in favor of the plaintiff and upholding the use of the Engle jury findings with respect to strict liability claims but certified to the Florida Supreme Court the question of whether granting res judicata effect to the Engle jury findings violates defendants’ federal due process rights. In March 2013, the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the final judgment entered in favor of plaintiff upholding the use of the Engle jury findings with respect to strict liability and negligence claims. PM USA’s subsequent petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court was unsuccessful. In Graham, an Engle progeny case against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds, in April 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit found in favor of defendants on the basis of federal preemption, reversing the trial court’s denial of judgment as a matter of law. Thereafter, plaintiff filed a petition for rehearing en banc, which the Eleventh Circuit granted in January 2016. In May 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit rejected defendants’ preemption and due process arguments and affirmed the final judgment entered in plaintiff’s favor. In September 2017, defendants filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court on due process and federal preemption grounds, which the court denied in January 2018. In January 2016, in Marotta, a case against R.J. Reynolds on appeal to the Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal, the court rejected R.J. Reynolds’s federal preemption defense, but noted the conflict with Graham and certified the preemption question to the Florida Supreme Court. In March 2016, the Florida Supreme Court accepted review of Marotta and in April 2017, affirmed the Fourth District Court of Appeal’s ruling on preemption. In Burkhart and Searcy, Engle progeny cases against PM USA and R.J. Reynolds, defendants argued that application of the Engle findings to the Engle progeny plaintiffs’ concealment and conspiracy claims violated defendants’ due process rights. In March 2018, in Burkhart, the Eleventh Circuit rejected defendants’ due process arguments and affirmed the final judgment entered in plaintiff’s favor. Defendants filed a motion for rehearing challenging that decision, which the Eleventh Circuit denied. In September 2018, in Searcy, the Eleventh Circuit also affirmed the judgment in plaintiff’s favor and in February 2019, the United States Supreme Court denied PM USA’s petition for writ of certiorari. In Soffer, an Engle progeny case against R.J. Reynolds, the Florida Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that Engle progeny plaintiffs can recover punitive damages in connection with all of their claims. Plaintiffs now generally seek punitive damages in connection with all of their claims in Engle progeny cases. In Schoeff, another Engle progeny case against R.J. Reynolds, the Florida Supreme Court ruled in 2016 that comparative fault does not reduce compensatory damages awards for intentional torts. Florida Bond Statute In June 2009, Florida amended its existing bond cap statute by adding a $200 million bond cap that applies to all state Engle progeny lawsuits in the aggregate and establishes individual bond caps for individual Engle progeny cases in amounts that vary depending on the number of judgments in effect at a given time. Plaintiffs in three state Engle progeny cases against R.J. Reynolds in Alachua County, Florida (Alexander, Townsend and Hall) and one case in Escambia County (Clay) challenged the constitutionality of the bond cap statute. The Florida Attorney General intervened in these cases in defense of the constitutionality of the statute. Trial court rulings were rendered in Clay, Alexander, Townsend and Hall, rejecting the plaintiffs’ bond cap statute challenges in those cases. The plaintiffs unsuccessfully appealed these rulings. In February 2016, in the Sikes case against R.J. Reynolds, the trial court held that Florida’s bond cap statute does not stay the execution of judgment after a case is final in the Florida judicial system and before the defendant files a petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court. In April 2016, the District Court of Appeal held that the bond cap applies to the period between a Florida Supreme Court ruling and completion of United States Supreme Court writ of certiorari review. In April 2016, PM USA filed motions in the trial court in the R. Cohen and Kayton cases seeking confirmation that the stay on executing the judgment remains in effect through the completion of United States Supreme Court writ of certiorari review or until the time for moving for such review has expired, which the court granted. No federal court has yet addressed the constitutionality of the bond cap statute or the applicability of the bond cap to Engle progeny cases tried in federal court. From time to time, legislation has been presented to the Florida legislature that would repeal the 2009 appeal bond cap statute; however to date, no legislation repealing the statute has passed. Other Smoking and Health Class Actions Since the dismissal in May 1996 of a purported nationwide class action brought on behalf of allegedly addicted smokers, plaintiffs have filed numerous putative smoking and health class action suits in various state and federal courts. In general, these cases purport to be brought on behalf of residents of a particular state or states (although a few cases purport to be nationwide in scope) and raise addiction claims and, in many cases, claims of physical injury as well. Class certification has been denied or reversed by courts in 61 smoking and health class actions involving PM USA in Arkansas (1), California (1), Delaware (1), the District of Columbia (2), Florida (2), Illinois (3), Iowa (1), Kansas (1), Louisiana (1), Maryland (1), Michigan (1), Minnesota (1), Nevada (29), New Jersey (6), New York (2), Ohio (1), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (1), Puerto Rico (1), South Carolina (1), Texas (1) and Wisconsin (1). As of April 22, 2019, PM USA and Altria are named as defendants, along with other cigarette manufacturers, in seven class actions filed in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Ontario. In Saskatchewan, British Columbia (two separate cases) and Ontario, plaintiffs seek class certification on behalf of individuals who suffer or have suffered from various diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, heart disease or cancer, after smoking defendants’ cigarettes. In the actions filed in Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia, plaintiffs seek certification of classes of all individuals who smoked defendants’ cigarettes. In March 2019, these cases were stayed as a result of three Canadian tobacco manufacturers (none of which are related to Altria or its subsidiaries) seeking protection under Canada’s Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (which is similar to Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S.). The companies entered into these proceedings following a Canadian appellate court upholding two smoking and health class action verdicts against those companies totaling approximately CAD $13 billion. See Guarantees and Other Similar Matters below for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement between Altria and PMI that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products. Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation Overview In the health care cost recovery litigation, governmental entities seek reimbursement of health care cost expenditures allegedly caused by tobacco products and, in some cases, of future expenditures and damages. Relief sought by some but not all plaintiffs includes punitive damages, multiple damages and other statutory damages and penalties, injunctions prohibiting alleged marketing and sales to minors, disclosure of research, disgorgement of profits, funding of anti-smoking programs, additional disclosure of nicotine yields, and payment of attorney and expert witness fees. Although there have been some decisions to the contrary, most judicial decisions in the United States have dismissed all or most health care cost recovery claims against cigarette manufacturers. Nine federal circuit courts of appeals and eight state appellate courts, relying primarily on grounds that plaintiffs’ claims were too remote, have ordered or affirmed dismissals of health care cost recovery actions. The United States Supreme Court has refused to consider plaintiffs’ appeals from the cases decided by five circuit courts of appeal. In addition to the cases brought in the United States, health care cost recovery actions have also been brought against tobacco industry participants, including PM USA and Altria in Israel (dismissed), the Marshall Islands (dismissed) and Canada (10 cases), and other entities have stated that they are considering filing such actions. In September 2005, in the first of several health care cost recovery cases filed in Canada, the Canadian Supreme Court ruled that legislation passed in British Columbia permitting the lawsuit is constitutional, and, as a result, the case, which had previously been dismissed by the trial court, was permitted to proceed. PM USA’s and other defendants’ challenge to the British Columbia court’s exercise of jurisdiction was rejected by the Court of Appeals of British Columbia and, in April 2007, the Supreme Court of Canada denied review of that decision. Since the beginning of 2008, the Canadian Provinces of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia have brought health care reimbursement claims against cigarette manufacturers. PM USA is named as a defendant in the British Columbia and Quebec cases, while both Altria and PM USA are named as defendants in the New Brunswick, Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia cases. The Nunavut Territory and Northwest Territory have passed similar legislation. All of these cases have been stayed pending resolution of proceedings in Canada involving three tobacco manufacturers (none of which are affiliated with Altria or its subsidiaries). See Smoking and Health Litigation - Other Smoking and Health Class Actions above for a discussion of these proceedings. See Guarantees and Other Similar Matters below for a discussion of the Distribution Agreement between Altria and PMI that provides for indemnities for certain liabilities concerning tobacco products. Settlements of Health Care Cost Recovery Litigation In November 1998, PM USA and certain other tobacco product manufacturers entered into the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (the “MSA”) with 46 states, the District of Columbia and certain U.S. territories to settle asserted and unasserted health care cost recovery and other claims. PM USA and certain other tobacco product manufacturers had previously entered into agreements to settle similar claims brought by Mississippi, Florida, Texas and Minnesota (together with the MSA, the “State Settlement Agreements”). The State Settlement Agreements require that the original participating manufacturers or “OPMs” (now PM USA and R.J. Reynolds and, with respect to certain brands, ITG Brands, LLC (“ITG”)) make annual payments of approximately $9.4 billion, subject to adjustments for several factors, including inflation, market share and industry volume. In addition, the OPMs are required to pay settling plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees, subject to an annual cap of $500 million. For the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the aggregate amount recorded in cost of sales with respect to the State Settlement Agreements was approximately $0.9 billion and $1.0 billion, respectively. These amounts include PM USA’s estimate of amounts related to NPM Adjustments discussed below. NPM Adjustment Disputes PM USA is participating in proceedings regarding the NPM Adjustment for 2003-2018. The “NPM Adjustment” is a reduction in MSA payments made by the OPMs and those manufacturers that are subsequent signatories to the MSA (collectively, the “participating manufacturers” or “PMs”) that applies if the PMs collectively lose at least a specified level of market share to non-participating manufacturers since 1997, subject to certain conditions and defenses. The independent auditor (the “IA”) appointed under the MSA calculates the maximum amount of the NPM Adjustment, if any, for each year. NPM Adjustment Disputes - Settlement with 36 States and Territories and Settlement with New York. PM USA has entered into two settlements of NPM Adjustment disputes with a total of 37 states and territories, one with 36 states and territories (the “multi-state settlement”) and the other with the State of New York. In the multi-state settlement, PM USA, by the end of October 2017, had settled the NPM Adjustment disputes for 2003-2015 with 26 states in exchange for a total of $740 million. In 2018, there were three principal developments with respect to this settlement. First, in the first quarter of 2018, PM USA settled the NPM Adjustment disputes for 2004-2017 with nine additional states. As a result of these additional nine states joining the multi-state settlement, PM USA will receive approximately $81 million for 2004-2017 ($13 million of which relates to the 2015-2017 “transition years”), $68 million of which it received in April 2018 and another $5 million of which it received in April 2019. In connection with this settlement, PM USA recorded a reduction to cost of sales in the amount of $81 million in the first quarter of 2018. Second, in the second quarter of 2018, Pennsylvania joined the multi-state settlement for 2004-2017. As a result, PM USA will receive approximately $90 million for 2004-2017 ($13 million of which relates to the 2015-2017 “transition years”), $77 million of which it received in April 2019. In connection with this settlement, PM USA recorded a reduction to cost of sales in the amount of $90 million in the second quarter of 2018. Third, in the second quarter of 2018, PM USA agreed to settle the NPM Adjustment disputes for 2016 and 2017 with the 26 states mentioned above. As a result, PM USA will receive approximately $77 million for 2016 and 2017, $39 million of which it received in April 2019. In connection with this settlement, PM USA recorded a reduction to cost of sales in the amount of $38 million for the 2017 NPM Adjustment in the second quarter of 2018, having previously recorded a reduction to cost of sales in the amount of $39 million for the 2016 NPM Adjustment in the third quarter of 2017 based on PM USA’s then best estimate regarding 2016. In the first quarter of 2019, PM USA recorded a reduction to cost of sales in the amount of $52 million for its estimate of the 2018 NPM Adjustment it expects to receive for the multi-state settlement. In the NPM Adjustment settlement with New York, which was entered into in 2015, PM USA has received approximately $265 million for 2004-2017. Both the New York settlement and the multi-state settlement also contain provisions resolving certain disputes regarding the application of the NPM Adjustment going forward, although the applicability of those provisions with respect to the signatory states that joined the multi-state settlement after 2017 is contingent on satisfaction, in the PMs’ sole discretion, of certain conditions. 2003 and Subsequent NPM Adjustments - Continuing Disputes with States that have not Settled.
▪ | 2003 NPM Adjustment. In September 2013, an arbitration panel issued rulings regarding the 15 states and territories that remained in the arbitration, ruling that six of them did not establish valid defenses to the NPM Adjustment for 2003. Two of these states later joined the multi-state settlement discussed above. With respect to the remaining four states, following the outcome of challenges in state courts, PM USA ultimately recorded $74 million primarily as a reduction to cost of sales. Two potential disputes remain outstanding regarding the amount of interest due to PM USA and there is no assurance that PM USA will prevail in either of these disputes.
▪ | 2004 and Subsequent NPM Adjustments. PM USA has continued to pursue the NPM Adjustments for 2004 and subsequent years in multi-state arbitrations against the states that did not join either of the settlements discussed above. New Mexico is currently appealing a trial court ruling that the state must participate in the multi-state arbitration for 2004. The Montana state courts ruled that Montana may litigate its claims in state court, rather than participate in a multi-state arbitration and the PMs have agreed not to contest the applicability of the 2004 NPM Adjustment to Montana.
The 2004 multi-state arbitration is currently proceeding with all of the states that have not settled other than Montana and New Mexico. Decisions are not expected until the middle of 2019 at the earliest. No assurance can be given as to when proceedings for 2005 and subsequent years will be scheduled or the precise form those proceedings will take. The IA has calculated that PM USA’s share of the maximum potential NPM Adjustments for 2004-2018 is (exclusive of interest or earnings): $388 million for 2004; $181 million for 2005; $154 million for 2006; $185 million for 2007; $250 million for 2008; $211 million for 2009; $218 million for 2010; $166 million for 2011; $214 million for 2012; $224 million for 2013; $258 million for 2014; $299 million for 2015; $292 million for 2016; $285 million for 2017 and $332 million for 2018. These maximum amounts will be reduced, likely substantially, to reflect the settlements with the signatory states and New York, and potentially for current and future calculation disputes and other developments. Finally, PM USA’s recovery of these amounts, even as reduced, is dependent upon subsequent determinations regarding state-specific defenses and disputes with other PMs. Other Disputes Under the State Settlement Agreements The payment obligations of the tobacco product manufacturers that are parties to the State Settlement Agreements, as well as the allocations of any NPM Adjustments and related settlements, have been and may continue to be affected by R.J. Reynolds’s acquisition of Lorillard and its related sale of certain cigarette brands to ITG (the “ITG brands”). In particular, R.J. Reynolds and ITG have asserted that they do not have to make payments on the ITG brands under the Florida, Minnesota and Texas State Settlement Agreements or include the ITG brands for purposes of certain calculations under the State Settlement Agreements. PM USA believes that R.J. Reynolds’s and ITG’s position violates the State Settlement Agreements and applicable law. PM USA further believes that these actions: (i) improperly increased PM USA’s payments for 2015-2018; (ii) may improperly increase PM USA’s payments for subsequent years; (iii) improperly decreased PM USA’s share of the 2015-2018 NPM Adjustments and of the settlements of related disputes; and (iv) may improperly decrease PM USA’s share of NPM Adjustments and related settlements for subsequent years. In January 2017, PM USA and the State of Florida each filed a motion in Florida state court against R.J. Reynolds and ITG seeking to enforce the Florida State Settlement Agreement. In August 2018, the Florida trial court entered final judgment ruling that R.J. Reynolds (and not ITG) must make settlement payments under the Florida State Settlement Agreement on the ITG brands, and ordering R.J. Reynolds to pay PM USA approximately $9.8 million (inclusive of interest) for the 2015-2017 period. R.J. Reynolds and PM USA have each filed notices of appeal of the trial court’s decision, which proceedings may result in further modifications to PM USA’s settlement payments under the Florida State Settlement Agreement. In March 2018, PM USA and the State of Minnesota filed pleadings in Minnesota state court asserting claims against R.J. Reynolds and ITG, similar to those made in Florida, and seeking to enforce the Minnesota State Settlement Agreement. In December 2018, PM USA filed a motion in Mississippi state court seeking to enforce the Mississippi State Settlement Agreement against R.J. Reynolds and ITG with respect to the accuracy of certain submissions made by R.J. Reynolds and ITG relating to payments on the ITG brands. In January 2019, PM USA and the State of Texas each filed a motion in federal court for the Eastern District of Texas against R.J. Reynolds and ITG seeking to enforce the Texas State Settlement Agreement. Federal Government’s Lawsuit In 1999, the United States government filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against various cigarette manufacturers, including PM USA, and others, including Altria, asserting claims under three federal statutes. The case ultimately proceeded only under the civil provisions of RICO. In August 2006, the district court held that certain defendants, including Altria and PM USA, violated RICO and engaged in seven of the eight “sub-schemes” to defraud that the government had alleged. Specifically, the court found that:
▪ | defendants falsely denied, distorted and minimized the significant adverse health consequences of smoking;
▪ | defendants hid from the public that cigarette smoking and nicotine are addictive;
▪ | defendants falsely denied that they control the level of nicotine delivered to create and sustain addiction;
▪ | defendants falsely marketed and promoted “low tar/light” cigarettes as less harmful than full-flavor cigarettes;
▪ | defendants falsely denied that they intentionally marketed to youth;
▪ | defendants publicly and falsely denied that ETS is hazardous to non-smokers; and
▪ | defendants suppressed scientific research.
The court did not impose monetary penalties on defendants, but ordered the following relief: (i) an injunction against “committing any act of racketeering” relating to the manufacturing, marketing, promotion, health consequences or sale of cigarettes in the United States; (ii) an injunction against participating directly or indirectly in the management or control of the Council for Tobacco Research, the Tobacco Institute, or the Center for Indoor Air Research, or any successor or affiliated entities of each; (iii) an injunction against “making, or causing to be made in any way, any material false, misleading, or deceptive statement or representation or engaging in any public relations or marketing endeavor that is disseminated to the United States public and that misrepresents or suppresses information concerning cigarettes;” (iv) an injunction against conveying any express or implied health message or health descriptors on cigarette packaging or in cigarette advertising or promotional material, including “lights,” “ultra lights” and “low tar,” which the court found could cause consumers to believe one cigarette brand is less hazardous than another brand; (v) the issuance of “corrective statements” in various media regarding the adverse health effects of smoking, the addictiveness of smoking and nicotine, the lack of any significant health benefit from smoking “low tar” or “light” cigarettes, defendants’ manipulation of cigarette design to ensure optimum nicotine delivery and the adverse health effects of exposure to ETS; (vi) the disclosure on defendants’ public document websites and in the Minnesota document repository of all documents produced to the government in the lawsuit or produced in any future court or administrative action concerning smoking and health until 2021, with certain additional requirements as to documents withheld from production under a claim of privilege or confidentiality; (vii) the disclosure of disaggregated marketing data to the government in the same form and on the same schedule as defendants now follow in disclosing such data to the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) for a period of 10 years; (viii) certain restrictions on the sale or transfer by defendants of any cigarette brands, brand names, formulas or cigarette businesses within the United States; and (ix) payment of the government’s costs in bringing the action. Defendants appealed and, in May 2009, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (“D.C. Court of Appeals”) largely affirmed the trial court’s remedial order, but vacated the following aspects of the order:
▪ | its application to defendants’ subsidiaries;
▪ | the prohibition on the use of express or implied health messages or health descriptors, but only to the extent of extraterritorial application;
▪ | its point-of-sale display provisions; and
▪ | its application to Brown & Williamson Holdings.
The D.C. Court of Appeals remanded the case for the trial court to reconsider these four aspects of the injunction and to reformulate its remedial order accordingly. Following several years of appeals relating to the content of the corrective statements remedy described above, in October 2017, the district court approved the parties’ proposed consent order implementing corrective statements in newspapers and on television. The corrective statements began appearing in newspapers and on television in the fourth quarter of 2017. In April 2018, the parties reached agreement on the implementation details of the corrective statements on websites and onserts. The corrective statements began appearing on websites in the second quarter of 2018 and the onserts began appearing in the fourth quarter of 2018. In 2014, Altria and PM USA recorded provisions totaling $31 million for the estimated costs of implementing the corrective communications remedy. The requirements related to corrective statements at point-of-sale remain outstanding. In May 2014, the district court ordered further briefing on the issue, which was completed in June 2014. In May 2018, the parties submitted a joint status report on point-of-sale signage to the district court and the court approved the parties’ proposed briefing schedule. The briefing is complete and the matter is pending before the district court. “Lights/Ultra Lights” Cases Overview Plaintiffs have sought certification of their cases as class actions, alleging among other things, that the uses of the terms “Lights” and/or “Ultra Lights” constitute deceptive and unfair trade practices, common law or statutory fraud, unjust enrichment or breach of warranty, and have sought injunctive and equitable relief, including restitution and, in certain cases, punitive damages. These class actions have been brought against PM USA and, in certain instances, Altria or its other subsidiaries, on behalf of individuals who purchased and consumed various brands of cigarettes, including Marlboro Lights, Marlboro Ultra Lights, Virginia Slims Lights and Superslims, Merit Lights and Cambridge Lights. Defenses raised in these cases include lack of misrepresentation, lack of causation, injury and damages, the statute of limitations, non-liability under state statutory provisions exempting conduct that complies with federal regulatory directives, and the First Amendment. As of April 22, 2019, a total of two such cases are pending in various U.S. state courts, none of which is active. State “Lights” Cases Dismissed, Not Certified or Ordered De-Certified As of April 22, 2019, 21 state courts in 23 “Lights” cases have refused to certify class actions, dismissed class action allegations, reversed prior class certification decisions or have entered judgment in favor of PM USA. State Trial Court Class Certifications State trial courts have certified classes against PM USA in several jurisdictions. Over time, all such cases have been dismissed by the courts at the summary judgment stage, were settled by the parties or were resolved in favor of PM USA. Certain Other Tobacco-Related Litigation E-vapor Litigation In April 2019, Altria, PM USA and JUUL were named as defendants in a tobacco and health class action lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. The lawsuit involves JUUL e-vapor products and proposes various classes of plaintiffs. The theories of recovery include: violation of RICO; fraud; failure to warn; design defect; negligence; unjust enrichment and deceptive and unfair trade practices. Plaintiffs seek various forms of relief including compensatory and punitive damages. Altria and PM USA are preparing their responses to the lawsuit. UST Litigation UST and/or its tobacco subsidiaries have been named in a number of individual tobacco and health suits over time. Plaintiffs’ allegations of liability in these cases have been based on various theories of recovery, such as negligence, strict liability, fraud, misrepresentation, design defect, failure to warn, breach of implied warranty, addiction and breach of consumer protection statutes. Plaintiffs have typically sought various forms of relief, including compensatory and punitive damages, and certain equitable relief, including but not limited to disgorgement. Defenses raised in these cases include lack of causation, assumption of the risk, comparative fault and/or contributory negligence, and statutes of limitations. In July 2016, USSTC and Altria were named as defendants, along with other named defendants, in one such case in California (Gwynn). In August 2018, the parties agreed to settle the Gwynn case and in September 2018, plaintiffs dismissed their claims with prejudice. Environmental Regulation Altria and its subsidiaries (and former subsidiaries) are subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations concerning the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise related to environmental protection, including, in the United States: the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (commonly known as “Superfund”), which can impose joint and several liability on each responsible party. Subsidiaries (and former subsidiaries) of Altria are involved in several matters subjecting them to potential costs of remediation and natural resource damages under Superfund or other laws and regulations. Altria’s subsidiaries expect to continue to make capital and other expenditures in connection with environmental laws and regulations. Altria provides for expenses associated with environmental remediation obligations on an undiscounted basis when such amounts are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Such accruals are adjusted as new information develops or circumstances change. Other than those amounts, it is not possible to reasonably estimate the cost of any environmental remediation and compliance efforts that subsidiaries of Altria may undertake in the future. In the opinion of management, however, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, including the payment of any remediation costs or damages and the making of related expenditures, has not had, and is not expected to have, a material adverse effect on Altria’s consolidated results of operations, capital expenditures, financial position or cash flows. Guarantees and Other Similar Matters In the ordinary course of business, certain subsidiaries of Altria have agreed to indemnify a limited number of third parties in the event of future litigation. At March 31, 2019, Altria and certain of its subsidiaries (i) had $56 million of unused letters of credit obtained in the ordinary course of business; (ii) were contingently liable for $30 million of guarantees, consisting of surety bonds, related to their own performance; and (iii) had a redeemable noncontrolling interest of $38 million recorded on its condensed consolidated balance sheet. In addition, from time to time, subsidiaries of Altria issue lines of credit to affiliated entities. These items have not had, and are not expected to have, a significant impact on Altria’s liquidity. Under the terms of a distribution agreement between Altria and PMI (the “Distribution Agreement”), entered into as a result of Altria’s 2008 spin-off of its former subsidiary PMI, liabilities concerning tobacco products will be allocated based in substantial part on the manufacturer. PMI will indemnify Altria and PM USA for liabilities related to tobacco products manufactured by PMI or contract manufactured for PMI by PM USA, and PM USA will indemnify PMI for liabilities related to tobacco products manufactured by PM USA, excluding tobacco products contract manufactured for PMI. Altria does not have a related liability recorded on its condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2019 as the fair value of this indemnification is insignificant. As more fully discussed in Note 13. Condensed Consolidating Financial Information, PM USA has issued guarantees relating to Altria’s obligations under its outstanding debt securities, borrowings under its $3.0 billion senior unsecured 5-year revolving credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) and amounts outstanding under its commercial paper program.

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