Altria and Philip Morris USA said today that the district court's
order clarifying its earlier decision on two legal issues is contrary
to the law. However, now that proceedings in the district court have
been completed, the companies will now proceed with their appeal to
the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia. Because the district court's judgment is stayed pending the
appeal, there will be no immediate operational effect from today's
clarification order. The companies look forward to presenting their
arguments to the appellate court.
