California Court of Appeal

In light of principles recently promulgated by the US Supreme Court constraining civil punitive damage awards, the record cannot sustain the $25 million punitive damage award against defendant cigarette manufacturer. The fact that defendant touted to children what it knew to be a cumulatively toxic substance warrants something approaching the maximum punishment; a $9 million award, reflecting a 6-to-1 ratio of punitive damages to compensatory damages, is appropriate.

Appellate Information

• Decided 01/20/2004
• Published 01/20/2004

Judges

• SEPULVEDA, J.

Court

• California Court of Appeal

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Shook, Hardy & Bacon, Gerald V. Barron, Lucy E. Mason, San Francisco, Mordecai Dempsey Boone, Tampa, FL, Arnold & Porter, Ronald C. Redcay, Los Angeles, Murray R. Garnick, Robert A. McCarter, Washington, DC, for Appellant.


• For Appellees:
  
• Law Offices of Daniel U. Smith, Daniel Upham Smith, Los Angeles, Ted W. Pelletier, Wartnick, Chaber, Harowitz, Smith & Tigerman, Harry F. Wartnick, Law Offices of Madelyn J. Chaber, Madelyn Joyce Chaber, San Francisco, for Respondent.