Fla. Jury Awards $72M in Punitives to Daughter in Smoking-Death Case; R.J. Reynolds to Appeal

A jury in Levy County, Fla., has awarded $80 million to the daughter of a man who died of lung cancer in 1996, at age 78, some six decades after James Cayce Horner began smoking in the 1930s, as a teenager.

Of that amount, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. must pay $8 million in compensatory damages and the remaining $72 million in punitive damages, reports Bloomberg.

A company spokesman says Reynolds is disappointed with yesterday's verdict and will appeal.

Dianne Webb, the adult daughter of Horner, was represented by Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & Shipley.

A law firm press release provides additional details.

Related coverage:

ABA Journal (March 2007): "Up in Smoke"

ABAJournal.com (May 2007): "Husband of Smoker Awarded $2.5 Million"

ABAJournal.com (May 2007): "Lawyer Disappointed in Tobacco Punitives"