How many of these sorts of judgements can the smoking industry sustain ?
Yes certainly the judgement will be appealed and almost certainly reduced but it was a jury verdict of guilty nonetheless.
Presumeably it will be paid by the insurer.
Anyone still got cigarette company shares .....?
This from todays AFR
Damages of $51bn has Philip Morris smoking
After deliberating for just under two days, a Los Angeles jury awarded $US28 billion ($51 billion) in punitive damages to a 64-year-old woman dying of cancer in a lawsuit brought against tobacco giant Philip Morris.