Tobacco Giant’s Worth Relevant in Calculating Punitive Damages, Says Attorney in Lung Transplant Trial

Laura Shamp tells jurors that they are entitled to consider Philip Morris’ worth, estimated at $85 billion, when imposing a punitive award against the company in her client, Elaine Jordan’s suit against the company. Jurors awarded Jordan $7.795 million in compensatory damages and found her entitled to punitive damages in her suit claiming the company’s concealment of smoking’s dangers led to disease that required her to receive lung transplants.