Here's The Logic Behind A Jury's Decision To Award $23 Billion To One Florida Woman

A Florida jury recently awarded Cynthia Robinson $23.6 billion in punitive damages in her lawsuit against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., filed on behalf of her husband who died of lung cancer at 36 from smoking since he was 13 years old. Robinson had argued R.J. Reynolds intentionally hid the health hazards caused by its product, according to The New York Times. Unlike compensatory damages where money is awarded to compensate for proven harm, loss, and injury, punitive damages are intended as ...