RJ Reynolds Denied Retrial for Vaping Patent Infringement Case

Jan.16.2023
RJ Reynolds Denied Retrial for Vaping Patent Infringement Case
RJ Reynolds Vapor Co. denied new trial for $95M payment to Altria over Vuse Alto vape pod patent infringement.

RJ Reynolds Vapor Co. has been denied a request to have their September loss reevaluated after being ordered to pay $95 million in damages to Altria Group for violating three vape pod patents with their Vuse Alto electronic cigarettes.


According to reports, Judge N. Carlton Tilley Jr. stated in an opinion released on Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina that "the jury's disagreement with Reynolds' perspective does not mean the trial was unfair.


Tilley refused the motion made by Reynolds, a subsidiary of BAT, to either retry or reduce the compensation awarded to Altria's customer service company by the jury on September 7th.


In its request for a retrial, Reynolds Vaper argues that "Altria improperly injected provocative evidence regarding allegations of patent infringement against Reynolds in other cases, depriving Reynolds of a fair trial. The erroneous evidence ruling also harmed Reynolds' defense. These errors, taken independently and under the cumulative error doctrine, affected the verdict and thus require a complete retrial.


Altria stated that "this was a fair trial. There is no reason for a retrial, and we are pleased that the jury correctly determined that Reynolds Vapor Company infringed on some of our patents.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

 China’s E-Cigarette Exports Reached About USD 903 Million in March 2026, Up 4.4% Year on Year
China’s E-Cigarette Exports Reached About USD 903 Million in March 2026, Up 4.4% Year on Year
According to the latest country-level data released by China’s General Administration of Customs, China’s e-cigarette-related exports totaled about USD 903 million in March 2026, up about 4.4% from roughly USD 865 million a year earlier. The United States, the United Kingdom and Germany remained the top three destinations, while the top 10 markets together accounted for about 72.2% of total exports.
Apr.21 by 2FIRSTS.ai
 Product | ASDF Chroma extends retro cassette visual language with lighting-focused pod design
Product | ASDF Chroma extends retro cassette visual language with lighting-focused pod design
2Firsts noted that ASDF has displayed Chroma on its official website. Public information shows that Chroma is a closed-pod device equipped with an 800mAh battery, switchable RGB lights, haptic feedback and Normal/Boost power modes. It uses a 2ml OSTRO cartridge with 2% nicotine strength. Public information also shows that ASDF has a Malaysian brand background and has previously drawn industry attention for the “retro cassette” visual language used in its Vapetape series.
May.26
FDA Tobacco Center Pushes Review-Efficiency Statement After Commissioner’s Exit
FDA Tobacco Center Pushes Review-Efficiency Statement After Commissioner’s Exit
FDA CTP issued a May 7 statement on accelerating product review and improving PMTA efficiency, but did not push it via official X and newsletter until May 13, one day after FDA Commissioner Marty Makary’s resignation was confirmed. FDA has not explained the delay, and no public evidence links it directly to the leadership change. The timing is notable given CTP’s usual 24-hour distribution practice.
Special Report
May.14
Exhibition Insights | Beyond Devices: What RELX’s Multi-Format Display Suggests About Category Expansion
Exhibition Insights | Beyond Devices: What RELX’s Multi-Format Display Suggests About Category Expansion
RELX’s booth in Prague brought together vaping devices, RELX-branded e-liquids, oral nicotine products and a nasal product concept in one display. Rather than centering the booth on a single hardware line, the company presented multiple product paths side by side.
Apr.20 by 2FIRSTS.ai
WHO’s First Global Report on Nicotine Pouches: Harm Reduction Questions Remain Amid Global Regulatory Warning
WHO’s First Global Report on Nicotine Pouches: Harm Reduction Questions Remain Amid Global Regulatory Warning
Ahead of World No Tobacco Day 2026, WHO released its first global report on nicotine pouches, warning that rapid market growth, youth-oriented marketing and weak regulation are converging. 2Firsts views the report as an important warning, but not a complete risk assessment, with harm-reduction questions still unresolved.
Special Report
May.17
Why Many E-Liquids Today Are "Not Bad, but Not Memorable" – Mylor’s Approach to Experience Design
Why Many E-Liquids Today Are "Not Bad, but Not Memorable" – Mylor’s Approach to Experience Design
From May 8 to 10, 2026, Mylor (Booth E70) will exhibit at The Vaper Expo UK, where it will showcase its systematic experience design solutions for e-liquids. At present, the e-liquid market commonly faces a challenge: many products have “no obvious shortcomings, but lack memorable features.” In response, Mylor has proposed refined solutions across multiple dimensions, including device-adaptive sweetness, progressive cooling sensation, fruit-oriented sourness, and segmented nicotine experience.
May.08