A French court has rejected an €18.6m lawsuit filed by the regional office of the French health insurance fund (CPAM) against four cigarette manufacturers, for the cost of treating patients with tobacco-related diseases.

Philip Morris Cos Inc has been ordered by a US jury here to pay just over $168,500 (€192,110) in compensatory and $150m (€171m) in punitive damages to Dr. Richard Schwarz for the death of his wife, Michelle.