Mayola Williams v. Philip Morris 1999

This case resulted in an $89.1 million verdict against the tobacco company Philip Morris for fraud. The case accused Philip Morris of hiding adverse health effects and creating false controversy over carcinogenicity of cigarettes. Our client Jesse Williams was a retired Portland Public School janitor who began smoking in order to ward off mosquitoes during sentry duty in Korea. This was Oregon’s largest jury verdict and largest punitive damage award sustained on appeal.