Tobacco giant appeals against £2.1bn damages award

Philip Morris lawyers have urged a judge to slash a $3bn (£2.1bn) punitive damages award to a cancer-stricken smoker and to grant a retrial.

The arguments presented yesterday formed a two-pronged attack by the tobacco giant on a June 6 decision by a Los Angeles County Superior Court jury that awarded Richard Boeken, 56, compensatory damages of $5.5m (£3.9m) and $3bn (£2.1bn) in punitive damages.