Brinda Coates, etc. v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Supreme Court of Florida ____________ No. SC21-175 ____________ BRINDA COATES, etc., Petitioner, vs. R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY, Respondent. January 5, 2023 POLSTON, J. In R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. Coates,

308 So. 3d 1068

(Fla. 5th DCA 2020), the Fifth District Court of Appeal reversed as excessive a punitive damages award that exceeds the net compensatory damages award by a ratio of 106.7 to 1. In so ruling, the district court certified a question of great public importance. 1 308 So. 3d at 1076. In passing upon the certified question, the Fifth District addressed the Florida and federal…