Philip Morris slapped $14 million damage
27 Aug 2009
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A jury in California has ordered tobacco giant Philip Morris to pay $13.8 million to the daughter of a woman who died after a lifetime of smoking.
Philip Morris is a part of Virginia-based tobacco-products group Altria.
Jodie Bullock, a resident of Newport Beach, argued that her mother Betty Bullock's untimely death in February 2003 was due to smoking. Betty, aged 64, smoked for 47 years.
Betty started smoking Marlboros in the 1950s when she was 17 and later turned to Benson & Hedges, both Philip Morris products.
Philip Morris said she could have given up smoking at any time as the harmful effects of cigarettes were known.
However, the panel voted 9-3 in favor of Jodie Bullock.
