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.
