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R.J. Reynolds loses appeal in $95 million Altria e-cigarette patent case
Dec 19 - A U.S. appeals court on Thursday upheld a $95.2 million jury verdict for tobacco giant Altria (MO.N) in a patent dispute with rival R.J. Reynolds [RIC:RIC:RAITH.UL] over e-cigarette technology. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a North Carolina jury's decision that vaping devices from RJR's top-selling Vuse line infringed three Altria e-cigarette patents. Spokespeople and attorneys for RJR and Altria did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the decision.