STCN partner Jim Coon successfully represented the Estate of Michelle Schwarz against Philip Morris in the tobacco company’s appeal of a $25 million jury award of punitive damages for “light cigarette” tobacco fraud. Jim teamed at trial with Larry Wobbrock, Chuck Tauman and Richard Lane to get the verdict in 2012 for Ms. Schwarz, who died of cancer caused by smoking “Merit” “low tar” cigarettes that were fraudulently sold by Philip Morris as a safer alternative to smoking regular cigarettes. State law provides that 60% of punitive damages awards go to the State Crime Victims Compensation Fund.
Phillip Morris is expected to appeal.