Philip Morris USA, Inc. v. Williams
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07-1216 | Or. S.Ct. |
Dec 3, 2008 |
Mar 31, 2009 | 9-0 | Per Curiam | OT 2008 |
Issue: Whether the Supreme Court of Oregon, on remand from the Court’s 2007 decision on the constitutionality of a $79.5 million punitive damages award based on harms done to non-named plaintiffs, improperly asserted a state law procedural bar having the effect of precluding Phillip Morris from asserting a constitutional claim.
Judgment: Dismissed in a per curiam opinion on March 31, 2009.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Tobacco punitive verdict stands (Lyle Denniston, March 31, 2009)
- Argument preview: Tobacco case, 3rd round (Lyle Denniston, December 2, 2008)
Briefs and Documents
Merit briefs
- Brief for Petitioner Philip Morris USA
- Brief for Respondent Mayola Williams
- Reply Brief for Petitioner Philip Morris USA
Amicus briefs
- Brief for the National Association of Manufacturers in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for the Pacific Legal Foundation in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for the Washington Legal Foundation and Allied Education Foundation in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for Associated Oregon Industries, the Northwest Grocery Association, the Oregon Forest Industries Council, Oregonians for Food & Shelter, the Oregon Metals Industries Council, and the Oregon Restaurant Association in Support of Petitioner
- Brief for Federal Procedure Scholars in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association in Support of Respondent
- Brief for Retired Oregon Supreme Court Justices Susan M. Leeson, Hans A. Linde, Betty Roberts, And Richard L. Unis in Support of Respondent
- Brief for Public Justice, P.C., The Tobacco Legal Control Consortium, The Tobacco Products Liability Project, The Tobacco Control Resource Center, Public Health Advocacy Institute, The Tobacco Trial Lawyers Association, and the American Association for Justice in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the States of Oregon, Delaware, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wyoming in Support of Respondent
- Brief for the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation in Support of Neither Party
Certiorari-Stage Documents
- Opinion below (Supreme Court of Oregon)
- Petition for certiorari
- Brief in opposition
- Petitioner’s reply
- Brief of the Chamber of Commerce in support of Petitioner
- Brief of the Washington Legal Foundation and Allied Educational Foundation in support of Petitioner
- Brief of Associated Oregon Industries, et al. in support of Petitioner
- Brief of the Product Liability Advisory Council, Inc. in support of Petitioner
