State Wants Punitive Damages in Tobacco Suit

California Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren said he has amended the state’s lawsuit against tobacco companies to allow California to seek punitive damages. Lungren said recent admissions by tobacco executives and internal industry documents that surfaced because of a Florida suit against the tobacco companies “provide new evidence that punitive damages against the industry are appropriate.” Florida and tobacco company lawyers signed an $11.3-billion settlement on Monday, ending the state’s lawsuit to recoup Medicaid costs for treating sick smokers. California filed a similar suit in June, seeking to recover about $433 million it spent in each of the last three years to treat smoking-related illnesses. The suit also seeks at least $500 million for alleged unfair competition.