Oral Arguments Held In Appeal Of $475K Punitive Award For Smoker’s Estate

Mealey's ( September 25, 2025, 1:26 PM EDT) -- WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Attorneys representing a tobacco company urged the Fourth District Florida Court of Appeal during oral arguments on Sept. 24 to reverse or order remittitur of a $475,000 punitive damages verdict awarded in favor of the estate of a dead smoker, arguing that the award is excessive because it is 11 times greater than the compensatory damages the estate was awarded....