An American man has had an award of damages against the Philip Morris tobacco company cut to $100m. A superior California court reduced the award from the initial $3bn.
Judge Charles McCoy said that the award to Richard Boeken, who is dying of lung cancer, was too high and set an unfair precedent for future claims. The award was the highest ever sum granted to an individual plaintiff. However, Philip Morris has said it would still appeal against the "grossly excessive" verdict.
