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Tobacco Firms Face $196bn Claim
Smokers in a landmark case against the tobacco industry over smoking-related illnesses have asked for up to $196bn damages. Stanley Rosenblatt, attorney for an estimated 700,000 Florida smokers, told a Miami jury that the "day of reckoning has arrived".
The five tobacco firms in the case were found guilty last year of knowingly selling products that caused illnesses to users.
Judge Robert Kaye last week rejected a request from the tobacco firms to limit penalties to $15bn.
A decision on the punitive damages is expected by the end of the month. However,any decision will be appealed and the case is expected to take at least two years to move through Florida appeal courts.
The jury in the case has already awarded $12.7m compensation to three representative smokers.
The five companies named in the suit, Philip Morris Inc, RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co, Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp, Lorillard Tobacco Co and Liggett Group Inc have also settled cases in 50 US states, requiring them to pay an estimated $246bn over a 25-year period.
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