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14TOBACCOOUTLETBUSINESSNOVEMBERDECEMBER2011NEWSTRENDSNOVEMBERDECEMBER2011CelebratingAngeloDundeewithCigarsToraoFamilyCigarshonorsHallofFameboxingtrainer.HallofFameboxingtrainerAngeloDundeecelebrated90yearsofagewithareunionwithapieceofhisgloriouspastandagiftfromtheToraoFamilyCigarCompany.ThelegendaryDundeewhotrained12worldboxingchampionsmostfamouslyMuhammadAliandSugarRayLeonardturned90onAug.30.Hecelebratedthatmilestoneatthenewincarnationofthe5thStreetGyminMiamiBeachwhichopenedlastyear.StillspryDundeesatringsidegivingpointerstoyoungboxerspos-ingforpicturesandsigningautographsasfriendsstreamedbytowishhimwellforhisbirthday.BoxingfanKenDrodvillosurprisedDundeewithabrickfromtheoriginal5thStreetGymwhichwastorndownin1994.ToraofamilymemberCarlosx1cLlacax1dToraopresentedhimwithaboxofToraoReservaSelectacigars.x1cItx19sanhonortorepresenttheToraofamilyduringspecialmomentslikethesex1dsaidToraoinpresentingthegift.x1cTobeinthepresenceofalivinglegendlikeAngeloDundeeasheturns90isquitehumbling.x1dStarScientifcx19sPatentClaimsDeniedCompanywinsareversalofrul-ingagainstitspatentsx19validity.Anappealscourtdeniedtobacco-prod-uctscompanyStarScienticx19spatentinfringementclaimsagainstReynoldsAmericananditsmotionforanewtrialinacaseinvolvinglawsuitsledin2001and2002.StarScientichadbeenseekingtoreverseapriorverdictndingthatR.J.Reynoldsdidnx19tinfringeonStarScientif-icx19spatentforamethodofcuringtobaccothatreducessometoxinsandthatthepatentwasinvalid.Whiletheappealscourtruledagainstthecompanyonthepatentinfringementchargeitalsoreversedthelowercourtx19sdenialofStarx19smotioninvolvingtheva-lidityofthepatents.x1cWearegratiedthattheFederalCir-cuitCourtofAppealshasafrmedtheva-lidityofthepatentsatissueinourprose-cutionofpatentinfringementagainstR.J.Reynoldsx1dsaidaspokespersonforStarScienticcommentingontheruling.x1cThecourtspecicallyrejectedeachofthefourinvaliditydefensesraisedbyRJRandthepanelalsoreversedtheDistrictCourtx19s2007summaryjudgmentrulingonpriori-tydate.Wenonethelessaredisappoint-edthattheFederalCircuitdidnotreversethejurytrialverdictofnon-infringement.x1dx1cHowevertodayx19sdecisionfullyre-establishesandreinforcesthecompanyx19srightstoassertitspatentsagainstallpriorandfutureinfringersx1daddedthespokes-person.x1cInparticularweanticipatethatourlitigationagainstRJRforcuringsea-sonsafterthetwoyearsaddressedinthiscasenowcanmoveforward.Thatlitiga-tionhadbeenstayedpendingtheout-comeoftheappeal.x1dPMExtendsPriceProgramPhilipMorrisUSAwillrunitsMarlboroLeadershipPriceMLPoptionthroughtheendoftheyear.PreviouslysettoexpireOct.1PMx19sMLPpromotionwillrunthroughtheendoftheyearforretailersparticipatingattheprogramx19shighestlevel.TheMLPprogramimposesaretailpriceceilinginexchangefora20-centper-packdis-countandstate-specicpriceincentives.APhilipMorrisspokespersonnotesthattherulesoftheprogramwhichisanoptionalpromotionalprogramthathasbeenavailabletoretailerssinceApril2011remainthesame.Whiletheprogramhasbeencriticizedbycom-petitorsasax1cmovetowardpricexingx1dPhilipMorrishasbilleditasanefforttohelpsmokershurtbythecountryx19seconomicdownturn.PMx19sparentcompanyhasdeclinedtosharespecicnumbersastowhatpercentofoperatorsinitsupper-levelRetailLeadersprogramhaveswitchedtotheMLPpromotionbutindustryexpertsreportthatitx19smorethanantici-pated.Carlosx1cLlacax1dToraowithAngeloDundeeandasigned5thStreetGymT-shirt.