From 1981 to 1984, the average damage award was more than $2 million.

The case, and the huge damage award, got him thinking.

But when the jury returned a $675,000 damage award, they went too far.

And many still see the potential for huge damage awards as a check on corporate power.

The defense would clearly claim a small damage award as a victory.

If he does so, lawyers say, bigger damage awards would result.

Still, with interest, the damage award now totals $10.3 billion.

But if the damage award is to be paid under the provisions of the current bill, we will not accept it.

The potential for a huge damage award had not been lost on the cigarette makers.

The court upheld a $13.8 million damage award against Ford.