Florida Supreme Court Rules for Client Philip Morris USA in Engle Class Action

On July 6, 2006, the Florida Supreme Court ruled in favor of Winston & Strawn client Philip Morris USA in the Engle class action, vacating the $145 billion classwide punitive damages award and ordering decertification of the class.

Engle was the first smokers’ case to be certified as a class action anywhere in the country, and the first to be tried to judgment. Winston attorneys have played a major role throughout the case, trying the named plaintiffs’ liability and compensatory damages phase and the classwide punitive damages phase in a two-year jury trial, and chairing the joint defense group’s appellate effort.