California Jury Rules Tobacco Companies Have No Responsibility for Smoker's Illness.Business Editors/Legal Writers SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 7, 2003 A California jury today returned a verdict in favor of Philip Morris USA Philip Morris USA is the United States tobacco division of Altria Group, Inc. General information On January 27, 2003, Philip Morris Companies Inc. changed its name to Altria Group, Inc. Even under this new name, Altria continues to own 100% of Philip Morris USA. and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. in a case brought by a smoker. Laurence Lucier, 52, had asked the jury to award compensatory damages A sum of money awarded in a civil action by a court to indemnify a person for the particular loss, detriment, or injury suffered as a result of the unlawful conduct of another. in excess of $3 million, plus punitive damages Monetary compensation awarded to an injured party that goes beyond that which is necessary to compensate the individual for losses and that is intended to punish the wrongdoer. . He was diagnosed with cancer in 1999; the cancer has been in remission since June of 2001. "Mr. Lucier has a serious disease, and deserves our sympathy. This jury reached a correct verdict, however, based on the law and the facts presented in this case," said William S William, crown prince of Germany William or Frederick William, 1882–1951, crown prince of Germany, son of William II. In World War I he commanded (1914) an army on the Western Front and was nominal commander in the German attack . Ohlemeyer, Philip Morris USA vice president and associate general counsel. During the trial, which lasted nearly three months, Mr. Lucier claimed that he could not stop smoking because he was "addicted ad·dict·ed adj. 1. Physiologically or psychologically dependent on a habit-forming substance. 2. Compulsively or habitually involved in a practice or behavior, such as gambling. " and that even though he was aware of the government health warnings on cigarette packs, he never took them seriously. The decision was the first time in five California smoking cases that a jury has found for Philip Morris USA. The four previous decisions - Henley, Whiteley, Boeken and Bullock - remain on appeal. |
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