Court tosses tobacco verdict
St. Petersburg Times
July 7, 2006

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday scrapped the largest jury award in American history, the $145-billion given to 700,000 Floridians in a class action suit against tobacco companies.

Each person in the class had unique health issues that should have been weighed at individual trials, the court ruled.

But the court also upheld key points against the companies, including that cigarettes are addictive and cause health problems and that the companies for years misled the public about those dangers...

But the court's affirmation that cigarettes are an addictive health threat, along with its finding that the company misled the public, could be used against the tobacco companies in future lawsuits.

"I think it gives the plaintiffs a lot of traction," said Northeastern University law professor Richard Daynard, who has fought the tobacco industry for years.

Philip Morris vice president and associate general counsel William S. Ohlemeyer said the company disagreed with that part of the decision but is still studying whether to appeal .

So will 700,000 Floridians sickened by cigarettes start scrambling for lawyers?

"We know there are lawyers ready and able to bring those cases," Daynard said. "I think there will be warriors throughout Florida who will be willing to bring these cases and win them, because the court has really set out a road map for doing so."...