Stay Informed

Sign up for news & alerts

Already signed up?
Login here

take action
For every $1 states spend dollar sign on substance misuse and addiction, 94 cents go to shovel up the consequences instead of for treatment and prevention. TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS

What Can I Do?



Continuing Education
Free online courses for addiction counselors LEARN ONLINE

Get Help
Need alcohol or drug help for yourself or someone else? GET HELP

 

Fla. Jury Sets Damages at $145 Billion in Tobacco Case
July 17, 2000

Share Share Email
Email
Print
Print
SubscribeSubscribe
News Summary

The jury in the Florida sick smokers case has ordered the tobacco industry to pay $145 billion in punitive damages, the Associated Press reported July 14.

During testimony, the lawyers for the tobacco industry said the companies could only afford to pay between $150 million and $375 million. A higher amount, they argued, would put the five companies out of business.

Dan Webb, the attorney for Philip Morris Inc., called the verdict "an unfair procedure, unheard-of in American history." Philip Morris was ordered to pay $73.96 billion, nearly half of the total.

But Stanley Rosenblatt, the lawyer for the smokers, said the verdict "was a day of reckoning."

The Florida case was the first smokers' class-action lawsuit to go to trial. In April, the same jury ordered the tobacco industry to pay $12.7 million in compensatory damages.

The verdict marks the largest damage award of all time. Under Florida law, however, a punitive verdict cannot bankrupt a defendant.

The tobacco industry had filed a mistrial motion, and is likely to appeal the verdict.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

SUBMIT A COMMENT:

Note: Comments are now held for moderator approval. More info

Name:

Comment:
(limit 250
words)

Enter this word
(help):
Change

GUIDELINES: 
Please keep comments on-topic, courteous, clean, non-commercial, and within the word limit.
Read the complete guidelines