[JayMillz]

A Florida jury has slammed a tobacco company with $23.6 billion in punitive damages in a lawsuit filed by the widow of a longtime smoker who died of lung cancer in 1996.

The case is one of thousands filed in Florida after the state Supreme Court in 2006 tossed out a $145 billion class action verdict. That ruling also said smokers and their families need only prove addiction and that smoking caused their illnesses or deaths.

The damages a Pensacola jury awarded Friday to Cynthia Robinson after a four-week trial come in addition to $16.8 million in compensatory damages.

Robinson individually sued R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. in 2008 on behalf of her late husband, Michael Johnson Sr. Her attorneys said the punitive damages are the largest of any individual case stemming from the original class action lawsuit.

"The jury wanted to send a statement that tobacco cannot continue to lie to the American people and the American government about the addictiveness of and the deadly chemicals in their cigarettes," said one of the woman's attorneys, Christopher Chestnut.

Reynolds' vice president and assistant general counsel, Jeffery Raborn, called the damages in Robinson's case "grossly excessive and impermissible under state and constitutional law."

"This verdict goes far beyond the realm of reasonableness and fairness, and is completely inconsistent with the evidence presented," Raborn said. "We plan to file post-trial motions with the trial court promptly, and are confident that the court will follow the law and not allow this runaway verdict to stand."

The lawsuit's goal was to stop tobacco companies from targeting children and young people with their advertising, said Willie Gary, another attorney representing Robinson.

"If we don't get a dime, that's OK, if we can make a difference and save some lives," Gary said.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court turned away cigarette manufacturers' appeals of more than $70 million in court judgments to Florida smokers. Reynolds, Philip Morris USA Inc. and Lorillard Tobacco Co. had wanted the court to review cases in which smokers won large damage awards without having to prove that the companies sold a defective and dangerous product or hid the risks of smoking.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/jury-says...z382RLviwi

[Foolsgo1d]

I expect Castle Rustlers cougar data sheet to be downloaded a lot over the coming weeks.

[funkyzeit]

Do Americans always blame someone else for their addictions and lack of discipline and self control?

[speakeasy]

Out of curiosity, what was the relevance in mentioning her race?

And is she now instantly the richest woman on the planet?

[Rico Suave]

He has a habit of bringing race up in every post it seems like.

Rico

[monster]

(07-20-2014 02:42 PM)funkyzeit Wrote:  

Do Americans always blame someone else for their addictions and lack of discipline and self control?

Lawyers do that for Americans. Think of the lawyers fee from a 23B judgement! That's what motivates attorneys and the subsequent blame game.

That being said, I wish that 23B was funneled into the health care system so I don't have to subsidize all the smoker's health defects rather than funneled into one kind of random individual.

[JayMillz]

(07-20-2014 02:54 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

Out of curiosity, what was the relevance in mentioning her race?

Nothing really. I just thought Black Widow was catchy, like a spider.

[tarquin]

It will be brought down significantly after post-trial motions.

[LaserBear]

I thought this thread would be about some lucky spider.

[travolta]

(07-20-2014 02:42 PM)funkyzeit Wrote:  

Do Americans always blame someone else for their addictions and lack of discipline and self control?

To answer your question, yes. But you're underestimating how powerful (effective) advertising is. As a guy who often creates shady advertising campaigns myself, I kind of sympathize with the tobacco company, but at the same time they're definitely getting what they deserve.

[kosko]

Florida Tobacco prices go up $1 next year to compensate, State jumps up taxes to jump in on the fun also. Supposedly Big Tobacco has a massive war chest they have been chipping away at for these lawsuits for around 20 years and none of the lawsuits have really impacted business for them overall.

[TigerMandingo]

(07-20-2014 02:58 PM)JayMillz Wrote:  

(07-20-2014 02:54 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

Out of curiosity, what was the relevance in mentioning her race?

Nothing really. I just thought Black Widow was catchy, like a spider.

[Cr33pin]

Thats so much fucking money.......... Its just insane.

[rekruler]

There are some 7+ billion people on this god forsaken planet. The jury apparently believes this random woman is entitled to be among the richest 10 of these 7 billion people by virtue of having had a husband who died because of stupid.

[Fighting888]

(07-20-2014 02:42 PM)funkyzeit Wrote:  

Do Americans always blame someone else for their addictions and lack of discipline and self control?

Yes.

[Saga]

(07-20-2014 02:42 PM)funkyzeit Wrote:  

Do Americans always blame someone else for their addictions and lack of discipline and self control?

Americans don't always blame someone else for their addictions and lack of self control...but when they do, they get twenty-three billion dollars.

[Emancipator]

(07-20-2014 02:58 PM)JayMillz Wrote:  

(07-20-2014 02:54 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

Out of curiosity, what was the relevance in mentioning her race?

Nothing really. I just thought Black Widow was catchy, like a spider.

Not to mention this song is making waves on the radio circuit. (It was playing when I opened this thread)

[speakeasy]

Is anyone gonna run some game on this widow?

[Cattle Rustler]

(07-20-2014 11:03 PM)speakeasy Wrote:  

Is anyone gonna run some game on this widow?

On it boss!

[Switch]

Is that BILLION with a 'B'?

How the fuck I don't even understand.

[CactusCat589]

She's wealthier than any entire countries now.

God damn. How does a jury even have the authority to decide on a fine that stratospheric?

[Beyond Borders]

How will these companies even stay in business? It seems like every widow would try suing them after this.

[Handsome Creepy Eel]

Seems "The Runaway Jury" was prophetic.

[Glaucon]

I wonder how much the jury gets from the 23 Billion $.

[Genghis Khan]

I assume this will get appealed and the damages reduced significantly. No way state supreme court is going to let a woman walk away with $23bn. A few millions maybe, but a few billions?