Phillip Morris has been ordered to pay a former smoker, Cindy Naugle of Fort Lauderdale, $300 million after losing the lawsuit filed against them. The original lawsuit, filed in 1994, was a class- action suit that was thrown out on appeal. The plaintiffs that won in the original lawsuit were allowed to then file suit again Phillip Morris separately.
Cindy Naugle, 61, has been awarded one of the largest judgments in history. Her lawyers claimed were that she had been a smoke since 1968 and started because the company advertised as if smoking their cigarettes would make her appear older and sophisticated. The successful argument by her lawyers also included the claim that the Phillip Morris hid the fact that their product was not healthy and was addicting as well.
Phillip Morris’ has declared that they will appeal the judgment and the punitive damages ($244 million of the judgment) especially were “grossly excessive,” and violated the constitution. However this turns out the future does not appear bright for the tobacco industry. They have lost 8 out of 10 of their last cases and as many as 50 more trials are set to take place in 2010.
NOTICE HOW PEOPLE SEEM REAL DUMB WHEN THEY “IGNORANTLY” BUY CIGARETTES. THEY REMAIN DUMB FOR 30 YEARS WHILE THEY SMOKE. THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY GET REAL SMART AND GET LAWYERED UP.
MAYBE WE SUE STEAK KNIFE MANUFACTURERS EVERY TIME SOMEONE STABS THEIR OLD LADY TO DEATH!
I agree Roger. Unfortunately we live in a “sue” society. No one wants to take responsibility for themselves anymore.
You are obviously not a smoker. If a person begins smoking now – in 2009, with all the knowledge and warnings, well – that is different. Slightly. Smoking is a horrible, insidious evil. It takes you over. 30 years ago, nobody thought it was bad. There were no warnings, only promises of staying slim, being sophisticated, cool; it is government sponsered addiction. Just like gambling. Just like alcohol.
I smoked for 42 years, now have emphysema, but would never sue because of it. It was MY decision to start smoking – even though I was under peer pressure at age 14 – and it was MY decision to continue smoking even after all the warnings. Of course government warnings as we all know, come and go, and it changes its mind frequently. I didn’t realize the damage until three to four years before I quit. I got out of breath when walking, or climbing stairs, and when I went to bed my breathing was noisy – I could hear my lungs rattle. Then four years ago I quit cold turkey, and for two years enjoyed walking again, and my breathing wasn’t noisy at night anymore. Then came the bad news, and I now take three inhalers several times a day in order to breathe, and I can’t walk very far, can’t clean my house like I used to, and I’m only 62 years old. I wish there was something I could say or do to convince every smoker to quit. But I know that just like me, it has to be in their own time. I believe that rather than Phillip Morris paying one person $300M, they should pay for anyone who wants the patch, pills, or whatever it takes to help people quit. Many times I wanted to buy the patches, but just couldn’t afford them, and my insurance company wouldn’t pay for them. But they are paying for my inhalers. Go figure. Maybe I should sue Phillip Morris to pay for my inhalers and probably oxygen later on??
I heard that the tobacco companies are buying the companies that make products to help people quit smoking. Go figure
This is about the dumbest thing ever, whats next, sue the electric company cuz you touched a live wire and got shocked
Wow! Has anyone thought to sue the liquor makers when a drunk driver kills their loved one? Why not, it must be their fault and not the drunk driver’s. After all, he only drank what those bad, bad liquor makers made.
In 1968 we did not know that smoking had such bad effects and was so highly addictive. Just like in 1988 we didn’t know cell phones cause brain cancer. And it only takes a month or more of smoking to become addicted. Cigarette addiction is compared to heroine addiction. So she aws not being dumb because risks of smoking were not common knowledge and she did not CHOSE to continue. She was addicted. And you know there will be hundreds of law suites from average americans like your selves against blu tooth in about 30 years. Then it will be your stupidity and ignorance. Kudos to the lady standing up for consumer rights and telling corporations they cannont lie and tell us there are no risks to thier products with out consequence.