Florida Supreme Court Questions Ratio-Based Reversal Of $16M Engle Punitive Award

Mealey's (June 9, 2022, 12:23 PM EDT) -- TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Florida Supreme Court on June 9 heard oral arguments regarding whether a $16 million punitive damages jury award to a deceased smoker’s sister in an Engle case was properly reversed because it was more than 50 times greater than the jury’s compensatory damages award, with the sister’s counsel arguing that the award should be reinstated in part because larger punitive awards in similar cases resulting in death have been upheld....