Holy Smoke! SoFla Woman Hauls in $300 Million Verdict
Fort Lauderdale woman takes Philip Morris for $300 million
By BRIAN HAMACHER
Updated 11:47 AM EST, Fri, Nov 20, 2009
Cindy Naugle has acute emphysema, is bound to a wheelchair and carries around an oxygen tank 24-7, but today the 61-year-old Fort Lauderdale woman is $300 million richer.
That's because yesterday a Broward Circuit court jury sided with her in her fight against the Philip Morris company in one of the biggest tobacco verdicts in the state's history.
The jury found that the company was responsible for Naugle's 25-year addiction to smoking. She was awarded $56 million in compensatory damages, to help pay for medical expenses and pain and suffering, as well as $244 million in punitive damages.
Naugle's lawyers will talk about the verdict at a press conference this morning.
Her case is one of 8,000 lawsuits filed against tobacco companies in Florida.
Philip Morris said it plans to seek further review of the verdict.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Miami
First Published: Nov 20, 2009 8:40 AM EST
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