US court dismiss smoker’s appeal

The US Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal by cigarette maker Philip Morris over a $79.5 million award to the widow of a smoker.



Jesse Williams died of lung cancer in 1997 having smoked for 40 years.



The court upheld a 1999 ruling by the Oregon Supreme Court in favour of Jesse’s wife Mayola Williams.



Mrs Williams sued the cigarette manufacturer for fraud on behalf of her husband.



She claimed Philip Morris had committed a massive market-directed fraud for misleading people into thinking cigarettes were not dangerous or addictive.



Ms Williams argued that her husband had believed tobacco companies when they said the product was safe.



Having heard arguments in December, the judges said in a one-sentence order that they were not passing judgment on the legal issues presented.



The judgment has grown to more than $145 million with interest.