Litigation

Cal Supremes Dismiss Review in Buell-Wilson Mega-Dollars Case Against Ford

By Bruce Nye

    CalBizLit has followed this long strange trip here, here and, for a long summary of the procedural history,  here.

    Short version:  jury awards $122M in compensatories and $246M in punitives.  Courts chip away at the verdict as it bounces up and down through the appellate process, until finally there's nothing left but a scant $27M in compensatories and $55M in punitives.  Cal Supremes grant review on Philip Morris USA v. Williams, but put the case on hold pending SCOTUS action on Williams II.

    SCOTUS dismisses certiorari in Williams II.  Plaintiff in Buell-Wilson moves to dismiss review.  And yesterday, Cal Supremes rule as follows:

    Meaning: nothing left for Ford but one more shot at SCOTUS (which seems like a long-shot).  Meanwhile, the very plaintiff-friendly Court of Appeal decision in Buell-Wilson remains unpublished and unciteable by any other party in any other case. 

Full post as published by CalBizLit on April 23, 2009 (boomark / email).