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ARTICLE · 11 JUNE 2008

Supreme Court Docket Report - June 9, 2008

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In Philip Morris USA v. Williams, 127 S. Ct. 1057 (2007), the Supreme Court vacated a $79.5 million punitive damages award imposed by an Oregon jury against Philip Morris USA.

United StatesLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
David Gossett
David Gossett
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Originally published June 9th 2008

Keywords:punitive damages, Supreme Court, Philip Morris, due process, jury instruction, AK Steel Corporation, ERISA

The Supreme Court granted certiorari today in one case of interest to the business community:

Procedural Default—Independent and Adequate State Grounds—Punitive Damages.

Procedural Default—Independent and Adequate State Grounds—Punitive Damages. In Philip Morris USA v. Williams, 127 S. Ct. 1057 (2007), the Supreme Court vacated a $79.5 million punitive damages award imposed by an Oregon jury against Philip Morris USA. The Court held that the trial judge had violated Philip Morris's due process rights by refusing its request to instruct the jury that punishment could be imposed only for harm suffered by the plaintiff, not for injuries the company allegedly inflicted upon those not party to the litigation. The Court remanded the case

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