Tobacco Companies Urge Panel To Reverse $149M Verdict To Smoker’s Widower

Mealey's ( March 3, 2022, 2:03 PM EST) -- WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.— Two tobacco companies during March 1 oral arguments urged a Florida appellate panel to reverse a $149 million Engle verdict to the widower of a deceased smoker, saying the jury acted with prejudice by awarding $74.1 million in punitives against each company based on the smoker’s age at death, with one company also arguing the widower was not entitled to bring a wrongful death action based on the date he married the smoker....