Tobacco firms ordered to pay woman who died from lung cancer

January 15, 2010

California: On January 14, the California Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds that the tobacco companies should not have to pay $2.85 million in damages to the family of a California woman who died from lung cancer after smoking for 26 years. The defendant's case was based on the argument that "said that the warning labels on cigarette packs were outweighed by tobacco company advertising that emphasized the "benefits" of smoking." The ruling is significant because it is the first such ruling after 1965 when the government began requiring warning labels on cigarette cartons.