Despite having a $1.7-million jury verdict overturned and their case restricted by an appeals court, the family of a sick smoker won a second judgment against the tobacco industry, Law.com reported May 3.

A San Francisco jury awarded $2.5 million in compensatory damages to Leonard Whiteley, whose wife, Leslie, died shortly after the first trial ended, at age 40.

In the first trial, the jury also awarded $20 million in punitive damages -- $10 million each against Philip Morris and R. J. Reynolds. However, the 1st District Court of Appeal ruled that the companies -- charged with deceptive marketing -- could not be punished for some of their behaviors during a 10-year period. So punitive damages in the retrial may not be as high, and in fact may exempt Philip Morris altogether.