WASHINGTON, March 26 (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court said
on Monday it will not hear an appeal by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co
in a Florida case in which it was ordered to pay $28.3 million
to a woman whose husband died of lung cancer after decades of
smoking its cigarettes.

The justices refused an appeal by the Reynolds American Inc
unit, which argued that its constitutional due process
rights had been violated and that the issue could affect
thousands of pending cases in Florida against tobacco companies.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Supreme Court set aside on Monday a ruling that Myriad Genetics Inc can patent two genes linked to breast and ovarian cancers, in a case closely watched by the biotechnology industry.

The justices set aside a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that Myriad has the right to patent two human genes, known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, that account for most inherited forms of breast and ovarian cancers, and sent the matter back for more proceedings.

WASHINGTON, March 26 (Reuters) – President Barack Obama’s
sweeping healthcare overhaul on Monday went before the U.S.
Supreme Court where the nine justices began hearing arguments in
a historic test of the law’s validity under the U.S.
Constitution.

The sweeping law intended to transform healthcare for
millions of people in the United States has generated fierce
political debate. Republican presidential hopefuls and members
of Congress have vowed to roll back the March 23, 2010, law they
say will financially burden states, businesses and individuals.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Two years after President Barack Obama signed into law a healthcare overhaul, the Supreme Court on Monday takes up a historic test of whether it is valid under the country’s Constitution.

The sweeping law intended to transform healthcare for millions of people in the United States has generated fierce political debate. Republicans challenging Democrat Obama for the presidency in November and Republican members of Congress have vowed to roll back the March 23, 2010, law they say will financially burden states, businesses and individuals.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Supreme Court will hear historic arguments over the fate of President Barack Obama’s sweeping overhaul law of the country’s healthcare system, a landmark case that tests the constitutional limits of the federal government’s powers.

Following are brief backgrounds of the main attorneys who will argue in the high-stakes showdown scheduled before the high court over three days, starting on Monday:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Supreme Court has scheduled three days of historic arguments over President Barack Obama’s sweeping healthcare overhaul law. Each day features a different legal issue:

MARCH 26 – From 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

At issue: Whether the legal challenge to the law’s centerpiece requirement that Americans obtain health insurance or pay a penalty must wait until after that provision, known as the “individual mandate,” has taken effect in 2014.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Supreme Court will hear arguments next Monday to Wednesday over the fate of President Barack Obama’s healthcare law, a battle with legal, political and financial implications for the U.S. healthcare system’s biggest overhaul in nearly 50 years.

The heart of the arguments will turn on whether Congress exceeded its powers in requiring that Americans obtain insurance by 2014 or pay a penalty, the centerpiece provision in the law revamping the healthcare market, which accounts for nearly 18 percent of the nation’s economy.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul faces its biggest court test next week, capping a legal battle that could reshape the powers of the U.S. government, redefine medical care for most Americans and transform the 2012 election campaign.

The justices on the U.S. Supreme Court will pepper lawyers with questions, possibly signaling how they might rule, during a modern-day record six hours of oral arguments from Monday through Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul faces its biggest court test next week, capping a legal battle that could reshape the powers of the U.S. government, redefine medical care for most Americans and transform the 2012 election campaign.

The justices on the U.S. Supreme Court will pepper lawyers with questions, possibly signaling how they might rule, during a modern-day record six hours of oral arguments from Monday through Wednesday.

WASHINGTON, March 23 (Reuters) – The Supreme Court will hear
arguments next Monday to Wednesday over the fate of President
Barack Obama’s healthcare law, a battle with legal, political
and financial implications for the U.S. healthcare system’s
biggest overhaul in nearly 50 years.

The heart of the arguments will turn on whether Congress
exceeded its powers in requiring that Americans obtain insurance
by 2014 or pay a penalty, the centerpiece provision in the law
revamping the healthcare market, which accounts for nearly 18
percent of the nation’s economy.