MIAMI – A Florida appellate court panel, citing state Supreme Court precedent, has reversed fraud claims lodged against the Philip Morris tobacco company and reduced a prior $2.4 million damages jury verdict award to the estate of a deceased smoker, down to $1.7 million.

Florida Third District Court of Appeal judges Kevin Emas, Monica Gordo and Fleur J. Lobree issued a decision to that effect on June 19, reducing the damages award handed down by a jury to plaintiff Brenda Chadwell, as personal representative of the estate of her husband, James L. Chadwell.

Lobree authored the Court’s opinion in this case.