Brinda Coates v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Summary

The court held that a trial court abuses its discretion by denying remittitur of a punitive damages award in a wrongful death action when the award bears no reasonable relation to the damages proved and the injury suffered by the statutory beneficiaries. Because the $16 million award was disproportionate to the $150,000 net compensatory award and the beneficiaries' proven injuries, the court approved reversal of the punitive damages award and remand for further proceedings.