PORTLAND, Ore., June 10 (UPI) -- Philip Morris USA said it planned to take its appeal of a $79.5 million punitive-damage award in a smoking case to the Oregon Supreme Court.
The company said Thursday it still maintained the award was too high regardless of a state appeals court's determination the 1999 award to the family of late smoker Jesse Williams was appropriate.
The Portland Oregonian said the Oregon Court of Appeals determined on review its original award was correct based on what it saw as outrageous conduct by the tobacco giant.
Philip Morris, however, insisted that a 2003 U.S. Supreme Court decision limited punitive damages to a ratio of 9:1 to the compensatory award; the Oregon decision leaves intact what amounts to a 152:1 ratio.
A company official said the award would be appealed to the state high court where Philip Morris would seek a new trial.
