Fort Lauderdale jury awards $30 million to smoker’s widow

A Florida jury has awarded $20 million in punitive damages and $10 million in compensatory damages to the widow of a longtime smoker who died of lung cancer.

Robin Cohen's attorney, Adam Trop, says the six-person jury in Fort Lauderdale found that Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds each shared a third of the responsibility for Nathan Cohen's 1994 death at the age of 68. The jury found on Wednesday that Cohen shared a third of the responsibility.

The panel also awarded Cohen $10 million in compensatory damages, to be divided among the three responsible parties. If the verdict is upheld, Trop says Cohen will receive $26.6 million from Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds. Philip Morris said it will seek a review of the verdict. R.J. Reynolds said it would appeal.