High Court limits scope of punitives; Justices fault awards based on harm done to nonplaintiffs.(News)

Business Insurance,  February, 2007  by Hofmann, Mark A.

Tags: juror, Philip Morris USA, punitive damage

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Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The U.S. Supreme Court decision last week to overturn a $79.5 million punitive damages award against a tobacco company may not represent a total victory for businesses, say some tort reform advocates. That's because the 5-4 majority in Philip Morris USA vs.

Mayola Williams held that juries can take into account evidence of harm allegedly inflicted by a defendant on people other than the named plaintiffs in determining the "reprehensibility'' of the defendant's misconduct. However, wrote Associate Justice Stephen Breyer for the majority, ...

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