From 1981 to 1984, the average damage award was more than $2 million.
The case, and the huge damage award, got him thinking.
But when the jury returned a $675,000 damage award, they went too far.
And many still see the potential for huge damage awards as a check on corporate power.
The defense would clearly claim a small damage award as a victory.
If he does so, lawyers say, bigger damage awards would result.
Still, with interest, the damage award now totals $10.3 billion.
But if the damage award is to be paid under the provisions of the current bill, we will not accept it.
The potential for a huge damage award had not been lost on the cigarette makers.
The court upheld a $13.8 million damage award against Ford.
