Los Angeles - An Oregon jury yesterday ordered cigarette maker Philip Morris to pay a record $81 million to the family of a janitor who died from lung cancer after smoking Marlboros for 40 years.
Even though the family of Jesse Williams had sued for $100 million, it was the biggest verdict ever won by an individual in a smoking liability case, said attorney, Mr James Coon.
In the case in Portland, Oregon, a 12-member jury including four smokers found Philip Morris and Williams each 50 per cent guilty of negligence, meaning that Williams was also held responsible for his actions.