Cynthia Robinson took action against RJ Reynolds Tobacco, makers of Camel and Winston cigarettes, after her husband, Michael Johnson, died in 1996 aged 36.
During
the four-week trial, lawyers for Ms Robinson argued that RJ Reynolds was
negligent in informing consumers of the dangers of tobacco and thus led to Mr
Johnson contracting lung cancer from smoking cigarettes.
They
said Mr Johnson had become "addicted" to cigarettes and failed
multiple attempts to quit smoking.
The
Escambia County, Florida, jury returned its verdict after some 15 hours of
deliberations.
"RJ Reynolds took a calculated risk by
manufacturing cigarettes and selling them to consumers without properly
informing them of the hazards," Ms Robinson's lawyer Willie Gary said in a
statement.
"As
a result of their negligence, my client's husband suffered from lung cancer and
eventually lost his life.
"We
hope that this verdict will send a message to RJ Reynolds and other big tobacco
companies that will force them to stop putting the lives of innocent people in
jeopardy."
RJ
Reynolds plans to appeal the court decision and verdict. A
spokesman for the company said the landmark award was "far beyond the
realm of reasonableness and fairness".
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