Altria Patents Dropped as E-Vapor Trial Against Reynolds Begins

Two of British American Tobacco Plc’s Reynolds units got a bit of relief at the outset of a jury trial over e-vapor products when a federal judge in Virginia granted a joint request to drop allegations they infringe two patents owned by subsidiaries of Altria Group Inc.

The parties agreed to dismiss one patent held by Altria Client Services LLC and another held by Altria’s Philip Morris USA Inc. unit, according to Judge Leonie M. Brinkema’s order Wednesday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. A trial against BAT’s RJ Reynolds Vapor Co. and RAI Strategic ...