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Florida jury awards
millions for smoking death
REUTERS
August 20, 2009
By Jim Loney - Analysis
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- A jury in South Florida has
awarded more than more than $5 million dollars in compensatory
damages to a 92-year-old man whose wife died of lung
cancer.
A jury in Broward County Circuit Court
decided on Thursday that Philip Morris USA Inc. should
pay millions to Leon Barbanell, whose wife, Shirley,
died in 1996 at age 73. Barbanell's attorney, Steven
J. Hammer, said his client was "very satisfied"
with the decision. He said Barbanell "really feels
like justice has finally been served."
In a statement, Philip Morris said it
planned to appeal. Murray Garnick, Altria Client Services
senior vice president and associate general counsel,
spoke on behalf of Philip Morris USA in the statement,
saying the verdict was the result of a "severely
prejudicial trial plan."
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