A Norwich woman who developed cancer after years of smoking Salem cigarettes is one step closer to collecting a $28 million judgment against tobacco manufacturer R.J. Reynolds.

The Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled that lawsuits against cigarette manufacturers aren’t prohibited by an exemption in Connecticut’s tort liability law. The court was asked to decide the issue by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, which is considering R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.’s appeal of the award.