Florida's 2nd District Court of Appeal ordered Philip Morris USA to pay most of a USD 35 million judgement (EUR 33 million) to a man who underwent two double-lung transplants, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

A three-judge appellate court panel overturned a lower court ruling that would have reduced the payment because the former smoker was deemed to be partially at fault, the newspaper said. Liggett Group was held liable for a small portion of the USD 35 million, the Sentinel said. The suit belongs to a class of Florida lawsuits known as Engle progeny cases, in which former class-action suit members may use evidence gathered in that case to pursue individual damage claims.