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For a list of lawyers handling tobacco suits,

go to http://www.ttlaonline.com/ttlalist.htm

 

Calif. jury awards $28 billion in smoking case

From the National Desk
Published 10/4/2002 3:30 PM
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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- A California jury Friday awarded a record $28 billion to a 64-year-old woman who sued tobacco giant Philip Morris Inc. for fraud and negligence.

The award, by the Superior Court, was in the form of punitive damages to Betsy Bullock, who began smoking when she was 17. Last year, Bullock was diagnosed with lung cancer, which has since spread to her liver.

Philip Morris said that it would appeal the verdict.

"This jury should have focused on what the plaintiff knew about the health risks of smoking, and whether anything the company ever said or did improperly influenced her decision to smoke or not to quit," said William S. Ohlemeyer, Philip Morris Companies vice president and associate general counsel.

"Instead, it appears that this decision speaks to more general policy issues regarding smoking that can't fairly be decided in lawsuits like this."

Following a month-long trial, the jury last week awarded Bullock $850,000 in compensatory damages -- $750,000 in damages and $100,000 for pain and suffering.

 

Joseph W. Cherner, President
SmokeFree Educational Services, Inc.
http://www.smokefree.org

 

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