71.   If he prevails against the carriers, he said, he will give any damage award first to customers who have lost money.

72.   If the jury had done so, an arbitrator would then have determined the damage award.

73.   If they succeed, the size of damage awards against producers could easily mount into the billions.

74.   In addition, Florida law prohibits a damage award that would force a company into bankruptcy.

75.   In return, the tobacco companies would win immunity from most lawsuits and freedom from punitive damage awards for past behavior.

76.   In Texas, three business coalitions are pressing for relief from high damage awards.

77.   In return, the agreement proposed giving cigarette makers protection against class-action lawsuits and immunity from punitive damage awards for past misconduct.

78.   In the British Columbia cases, lawyers for the government and the churches negotiated secrecy over damage awards.

79.   In the spirit of compromise, the companies and their opponents tossed ideas back and forth on how to give the cigarette companies protection from punitive damage awards.

80.   Interstate said that it would not accept the reduced damages award and that it would appeal the original verdict to a higher court.