A Florida jury has ordered R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. to pay $23.6 billion to the widow of a long-time smoker.

Mrs. Cynthia Robinson sued the cigarette manufacturer over the 2006 death of her husband, Michael Robinson, Jr. He died of lung cancer at the age of 36, and started smoking when he was 13 years old. Robinson’s lawyers argued the tobacco company was negligent when it failed to inform minors of the dangers of smoking.

The company says it plans to appeal, but this case is one of thousands in Florida spurred by a state Supreme Court decision in 2006 that vacated an earlier verdict in favor of former smokers. The ruling stated families simply need to prove smoking is addictive and that smoking causes illness or death.

How were the $23 billion in damages calculated? What does this portend for the other cases in Florida? Since the U.S. Supreme Court recently failed to grant an appeal by tobacco manufacturers, is it likely this verdict will stand?

Guests:

Edward Sweda, Senior Attorney, Tobacco Products Liability Project (TPLP), a project of the Public Health Advocacy Institute, based at Northeastern University School of Law in Boston.

Jacob Sullum, Senior Editor, Reason magazine, Syndicated Columnist; Forbes drug policy blogger