Case Updates
Florida Supreme Court holds that under applicable Florida statutes, trial court in wrongful death action abused its discretion by denying remittitur of punitive damages award
January 05, 2023
Click here to view the opinion.
U.S. Chamber files coalition amicus brief
January 07, 2022
The U.S. Chamber filed a coalition amicus brief that the $16 million punitive damages award in this case – 106.7 times the compensatory damages award – is inconsistent both with federal constitutional due process requirements and with Florida-law precedents and statutory provisions that require a reasonable relationship between punitive damages awards and compensatory damages. Joseph H. Lang, Jr. of Carlton Fields, P.A. and the U.S. Chamber’s Litigation Center served as co-counsel for the U.S. Chamber.
Case Documents
- Opinion -- R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. Coates (Florida District Court).pdf
- U.S. Chamber Coalition Amicus Brief -- Coates v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (Florida Supreme Court).pdf
- Opinion -- Coates v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (Florida Supreme Court).pdf