The Oregon Supreme Court has again allowed a huge punitive-damages award against Big Tobacco’s Philip Morris to stand after it was twice rebuffed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
In Mayola Williams v. Philip Morris Inc. (docket# S051805) filed last week, the Oregon SC ruled against the USSC on whether the original trial jury should have received instructions proposed by Philip Morris. It did not address whether jurors could use damages to punish a company for injuries to people who aren’t part of the lawsuit before the court.