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Amanda Jean Hall was awarded $5M in compensatory damages, 12.5M in punitive damages for husband's death.
Jump to full article: Gainesville (FL) Sun, 2010-03-13
Author: Diane Chun Staff writer
Intro: An Alachua County jury has awarded a total of $17.5 million in damages to Amanda Jean Hall, who sued the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company after the death of her husband.
It was, attorneys said, the largest single civil verdict in the county, topping the previous high award of $10 million.
. . .
Attorney Mark Avera asked jurors to consider the net worth of R.J. Reynolds in determining punitive damages. In fiscal year 2007, it was $8.88 billion; in fiscal year 2008, it was $7.9 billion.
"Send a message to RJR's boardroom that they will be held accountable for their poor choices," he said.
Speaking on behalf of the tobacco company, attorney Dennis Murphy said RJR's corporate management "has heard your message, and we accept your verdict on compensation." The "old guard" of the firm is now gone, he said, and the message being put out by R.J. Reynolds has changed.
"Don't punish the company just for making profits," he said.
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Quotes from this article:
Don't punish the company just for making profits.
RJR attorney Mark Avera, to jurors in the Hall case
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