US Supreme Court dismisses appeal against US$79 million tobacco verdict

The US Supreme Court issued a one-sentence opinion dismissing tobacco company Philip Morris' appeal against a verdict for US$ 79 million in punitive damages as "improvidently granted." The dismissal means that the plaintiff, the widow of a smoker, will likely receive some portion of the jury's award, which may total more than US$ 100 million including interest. Such a one-sentence dismissal of the appeal by the US Supreme Court may imply, according to analysts, that no majority of the Court could agree on a position, or that the case is otherwise inappropriate to decide the issues presented.

US Supreme Court dismisses appeal against US$79 million tobacco verdict law.com Wed, Apr 1, 2009