Florida Smoker's Widow Gets $8 Million in Damages

[Chris_]

Florida Smoker's Widow Gets $8 Million in Damages

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. —  Philip Morris was ordered by a jury to pay $8 million in damages to the widow of a smoker who died of lung cancer in a case that could set a standard for some 8,000 similar Florida lawsuits.

The six jurors deliberated over two days before returning the award for Elaine Hess, whose husband Stuart Hess died in 1997 at age 55 after decades as a chain smoker.

The award amounts to $3 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages against Richmond, Va.-based Philip Morris USA, a unit of Altria Group. Hess's attorneys sought up to $130 million.

"It wasn't about the money from the beginning," Hess said after the verdict. "It was about doing the right thing."

Philip Morris attorney Kenneth Reilly said an appeal was certain.

B.S.  If it wasn't about money, why not just sue for $1.   

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[jtyangel]

Jesus, do people do anything based onlogic instead of emotion anymore? The fact remains this man started smoking after warnings were in place and had opportunities to quit before he was addicted to the nicotine, but chose to continue, but his widow is now a wealthy woman because he chose not to quit the cancer sticks(they are called cancer sticks for a reason).

[djones520]

Well, expect to see tobacco companies starting to go belly up now.

[thundley4]

Well, expect to see tobacco companies starting to go belly up now.

Between the law suits and tax increases, they are going to drive the companies under, and increase the black market for cigarettes .

[Eupher]

Between the law suits and tax increases, they are going to drive the companies under, and increase the black market for cigarettes .

Nope. Most cigarettes manufactured in the States are sold in China these days.

The tobacco companies started doing that some time ago when the cig-smoking population here in the States began dropping like the dead from lung and throat cancers.