A Florida jury has awarded $23 billion in damages to the widow of a long time smoker who died of lung cancer 18 years ago.
The judgement against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company – the second biggest cigarette producer in the United States – is the largest in Florida in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by a single plaintiff.
The widow, Cynthia Robinson, sued the tobacco company in 2008, claiming RJ Reynolds Tobacco was negligent for not informing smokers, and had conspired to hide the dangers of smoking from smokers and thus responsible in the death of her husband, Michael Johnson.
Johnson died in 1996, aged 36. He had smoked up to three packets of cigarettes a day, having smoked for over two decades - since the age of 13.
The trial lasted 4 weeks. Johnson’s two children – one from his marriage to Robinson, and another from a previous relationship – were awarded $7.3m ad $9.6m, respectively. The same jury who awarded these sums then deliberated for a further seven hours before awarding Robinson $23 billion.
Since a supreme court decision in 2006 there have been a spate of large awards to individuals suing tobacco companies in Florida, although most are reduced on appeal. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company has said the damages are "grossly excessive" and they'll appeal the decision.
