LOS ANGELES, Nov 20 — A Florida jury yesterday ordered cigarette maker Philip Morris USA to pay US$300 million (RM1 billion) in damages to a 61-year-old ex-smoker named Cindy Naugle who is wheelchair-bound by emphysema.

The Broward Circuit Court jury assessed US$56.6 million in past and future medical expenses against the company, part of Altria Group Inc, as well as US$244 million in punitive damages.

The verdict is the largest of the so-called Engle progeny cases that have been tried so far, both sides said.

“We believe that the punitive damages award is grossly excessive and a clear violation of constitutional and state law,” Garnick said.

Naugle’s lawsuit was among about 8,000 cases filed in the wake of a 2006 Florida Supreme Court decision that tossed out a massive class action against the tobacco companies. The case, known as Engle v. RJ Reynolds, resulted in the largest verdict in US history at trial — US$145 billion.

The Florida high court ruling, which decertified the class of about 700,000 smokers, allowed some to file individual complaints.

The case is Naugle v. Philip Morris USA. — Reuters

Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/world/44041-philip-morris-ordered-to-pay-rm1b-to-smoker