Federal Judge Remands Tobacco Suit, Finds Walgreens Not Fraudulently Joined

Mealey's (February 12, 2020, 12:13 PM EST) -- CHICAGO — An Illinois federal judge on Jan. 28 remanded a lawsuit filed by a former smoker against three tobacco companies and Walgreen Co. to state court, holding that the Illinois-based pharmacy chain was not fraudulently joined, as it is alleged to have known more about the risks of cigarettes than the general public and its presence destroyed federal jurisdiction (Gina Andersen v. Phillip Morris USA Inc., et al., No. 19-5812, N.D. Ill., 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 13664)....