A Delray Beach woman who sued R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company after her mother died of lung cancer is asking the Florida Supreme Court to intervene in her case. A jury awarded Gwen Odom six million dollars in compensatory damages, but the tobacco company convinced an appeals court to overturn their decision.
Odom's attorney, David Sales, told the high court tobacco companies are gaming the legal system.
"What's happening in these cases, is that Reynolds is leaving the matter of damages not to the jury, but looking to the trial courts when the verdicts are adverse, to rescue them," said Sales.
Lawyers for the tobacco company claim the six million dollar verdict is excessive because Odom was an adult who hadn't lived with her mom for 13 years and had a family of her own.