As reported by the Statesman Journal, in 2002, the family of Michelle Schwarz, who died of lung cancer due to smoking, obtained a multi-million dollar jury verdict in a personal injury case against Philip Morris. An Oregon jury awarded the Schwarz family $150 million in punitive damages against the tobacco giant. But the company appealed.
In a 5 – 4 decision, the appellate court reversed the trial court’s decision to award punitive damages of $100 million and the case is now headed to the Oregon Supreme Court.
The issue is whether or not the jury should have been allowed to consider harm from smoking to individuals from outside of the state of Oregon during the punitive damages stage. What is at stake – over $100 million.
Tags: San Francisco injury attorney Brett Burlison discusses injury lawsuit against tobacco company.
