Smoker's compensation slashed from billions to millions

A Los Angeles judge has slashed a record-breaking $28bn (€27.3bn) award to a former smoker to $28m (€27.3m), saying the jury’s decision on punitive damages was excessive.

Superior Court Judge Warren Ettinger upheld the jury’s decision that cigarette maker Philip Morris was at least partially responsible for Betty Bullock’s cancer. However, he said $28m (€27.3m) was “a reasonable sum to be awarded against Philip Morris in these circumstances”.