$81 Million Damages for Giving Black Kids Free Cigarettes

BOSTON (AP) -- A jury has awarded $81 million in punitive damages to the estate and son of a Boston woman who started smoking at age 13 after Lorillard Tobacco Co. allegedly began trying to hook black children.

The son estate of Marie Evans, who died of lung cancer, sued the maker of Newport cigarettes, claiming his mother began smoking after Lorillard gave away free samples at the Boston housing project where she lived.

The Suffolk Superior Court jury announced punitive damages Thursday, a day after ruling North Carolina-based Lorillard should pay $71 million in compensatory damages to Willie Evans and his mother's estate.

An attorney says Willie Evans was happy he won the lawsuit against Lorillard, as his mother had requested during a deposition just weeks before her death.

A spokesman says Lorillard will appeal.