JACKSONVILLE - A Florida jury awarded a former smoker of Lucky Strike cigarettes $750,000 after finding American Tobacco negligent for producing defective products.
The suit was brought on behalf of Mr Grady Carter, who was diagnosed as suffering from lung cancer in 1991, against the US unit of British American Tobacco (BAT). The surprise decision sent tobacco shares plummeting on Wall Street. Trading of Philip Morris shares were suspended a half hour before closing in expectation of the jury decision.