A tax by the back door?

Not sure I understand the question.... assuming you're asking one.

Not especially. I was in a rush and it was more of an observation than a question.

These punitive damages just seem like a revenue-raiser to fund government programmes, in this case a fund for victims of crime.

I'm all for compensation where its warranted, but punitive damages don't seem paritcularly just.

Eighty million seems like a lot for a single-defendant case. Now, I don't want to devalue the man who died's life, but it seems like the jury overstepped their bounds, and was punishing the tobacco industry for their behaviour in general over the last few years. I would expect to see a punitive damage number like that in a class-action suit.

Although on the other hand, a jury did render the verdict, and I am loathe to have the judiciary remaking jury verdicts.