A team of plaintiffs attorneys is challenging the constitutionality of a Florida law capping appellate bonds for cigarette makers when they lose smoker lawsuits.

The 2003 law, which benefits tobacco giants Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, Brown & Williamson and Lorillard, stands in stark contrast to the rules governing all other lawsuit losers, who must post a bond equal to the judgment against them plus twice the normal rate of interest.