A Portland woman's 10-year battle over an $80 million award ends at Supreme Court
Jump to full article: The Oregonian, 2009-04-01
Author: MICHELLE ROBERTS The Oregonian Staff
Intro: "To be truthful, I'm not in tune with my feelings," Mayola Williams said Tuesday during a press conference at the downtown office of two of her four Portland lawyers. "I'm feeling sad -- this is the month in which my husband died. But I'm also happy that Philip Morris will have to pay."
A decade ago, an Oregon jury levied $79.5 million in punitive damages against Philip Morris to punish the tobacco company for causing the death of retired Portland school custodian Jesse D. Williams, a longtime Marlboro smoker who died of lung cancer in 1997.
It was the largest verdict against a tobacco company at the time, although it has been eclipsed by a number of others, many of which have been overturned on appeal. Philip Morris and Williams' lawyers have been fighting for a decade over the size of the punitive damages, which far exceeded the $800,000 in noneconomic damages she was awarded. . . .
Portland lawyer Bill Gaylord said he did not know when Philip Morris would pay the Williams family but expected that it would be soon. He declined to say how much would be left after lawyers' fees, taxes and other assessments.
"I hope this case gives courage to other people who have claims against the other Philip Morrises of the world," Gaylord said. "And that every now and then, David slays Goliath."
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[E]very now and then, David slays Goliath.
Williams lawyer Bill Gaylord.
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