Florida jury awards record $23 billion against RJ Reynolds

[mashman]

"A Florida jury has awarded the widow of a chain smoker who died of lung cancer 18 years ago record punitive damages of more than $23 billion in her lawsuit against the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the nation's second-biggest cigarette maker." (https://nz.finance.yahoo.com/news/florida-jury-awards-record-23-003535179.html)... good job he smoked cigs from a branded pack, else there would have been noone to sue :shifty:

[bluninja]

A good job for Rolf Harris that didn't give his victims a cigarette afterwards. Or maybe not...they could have made a film of his time in prison "Broke 'n Back Mountin'"

[pritch]

She'll be able to buy a lot of cigarettes with $23 million.

[jasonu]

She'll be able to buy a lot of cigarettes with $23 million.

That's $23 Billion with a B.
She will never collect though.

[MVnut]

Absolutely ridiculous damages award....if they awarded an amount of (let's say) 50 million, then the tobacco companies may pay it instead of staying in litigation forever.

[awayatc]

just a smoke screen....

they are not the ones who will cough up.....

[bluninja]

just a smoke screen....

they are not the ones who will cough up.....

Awards like this should be filtered out if the court is not to be the butt of jokes that has lawyers rolling

[bogan]

Absolutely ridiculous damages award....if they awarded an amount of (let's say) 50 million, then the tobacco companies may pay it instead of staying in litigation forever.

Are they all bundled up with the compensatory damages? Or do they litigate against the punitive stuff while just paying the compensatory damages out of pocket change.

[neels]

And how will said tobacco company fund this settlement?

By selling more cigarettes.

[Clockwork]

Shouldn't this be in the "Stupid World" thread?