November 20, 2009

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Attorneys for a former smoker in South Florida are speaking out about the woman's $300 million verdict against Philip Morris USA.

A jury on Thursday ordered Philip Morris to pay 61-year-old Cindy Naugle what is believed to be the largest award to date among thousands of lawsuits filed in the state against tobacco companies. Her lawyers are holding a press conference on Friday morning in Fort Lauderdale to discuss the decision.

The award amounts to $56 million in compensatory and $244 million in punitive damages against Richmond, Virginia-based Philip Morris USA, a unit of Altria Group Inc. The company said it will seek further review of the verdict.

The case is one of 8,000 lawsuits filed against tobacco companies by Florida smokers and their families.

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