BANGOR (AP) – A lawsuit by three Mainers alleging deceptive and unfair advertising by the makers of Marlboro Light cigarettes could become combined with similar cases in other federal courts around the country, the plaintiffs’ lawyer said.

The suit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Bangor against Philip Morris USA Inc., and its parent company, Altria Group Inc., does not seek damages for personal injuries or health problems caused from cigarette smoking.

Instead, it alleges that the plaintiffs were lulled into thinking that “light” cigarettes contained less tar and nicotine than regular varieties. Lori Spellman of Levant, and Stephanie Good and Allain Thibodeau, both of Bangor, are seeking compensatory, punitive and other damages.

The suit claims that the cigarette makers’ marketing practices violated Maine’s Unfair Trade Practices Law.

Court documents say each smoked Marlboro Lights for 15 years or more. Spellman has smoked between one and 1 packs of Marlboro Lights per day; Good has smoked one pack every two to three days; and Thibodeau has smoked an average of 10 packs a week, the court documents say.

Attorneys for the cigarette company have not yet formally responded to the lawsuit, which was filed earlier this month.

The complaint is the first of its kind to be pursued in federal court in Maine, but one of hundreds filed in state and federal courts around the country. The Maine residents’ lawyer, Samuel Lanham Jr., says the case could be combined with similar ones elsewhere.

In a separate case, an Illinois court two years ago handed down a $10.1 billion verdict against Philip Morris after finding the company guilty of fraud.

After the verdict, language on packs of Marlboro lights and Altria’s Cambridge Lights saying the brands contained “lowered tar and nicotine” was removed.

An appeal of the Illinois decision is pending before the Illinois Supreme Court.