Florida jury awards record $23 billion against RJ Reynolds

**mashman** · 21st July 2014, 13:29

"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."... good job he smoked cigs from a branded pack, else there would have been noone to sue

**bluninja** · 21st July 2014, 13:39

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** · 21st July 2014, 13:42

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

**jasonu** · 21st July 2014, 13:48

Originally Posted by pritch

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** · 21st July 2014, 14:18

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** · 21st July 2014, 14:27

just a smoke screen....

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

**bluninja** · 21st July 2014, 14:59

Originally Posted by awayatc

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** · 21st July 2014, 15:17

Originally Posted by 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.

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.