Philip Morris liable for $850,000 damages
Philip Morris USA said a California jury found Philip Morris USA liable for $750,000 (€767,500) in economic and $100,000 (€102,000) in non-economic damages to Betty Bullock, a 64-year-old smoker.
The company will make no comment, pending completion of the case, Philip Morris Companies vice president and associate general counsel William S Ohlemeyer said.
Testimony regarding punitive damages is expected to begin next week.
The Wall Street Journal said the Los Angeles jury found that Philip Morris Cos concealed the health dangers of its cigarettes.
It said the 12-member jury also found that Philip Morris was "guilty of malice, fraud or oppression", and therefore could be liable for punitive damages.
The jurors are set to hear more evidence, beginning Tuesday, before deciding the size of any punitive award in favor of Bullock, who is dying of lung cancer. Punitive damages in tobacco cases have tended to be much larger than compensatory awards, the Journal said.
