N. C.-based Lorillard Tobacco Co. has been asked by the jury to pay $81 million in punitive damages to the son and estate of the Late Marie Evans for giving free cigarette samples to the woman from Boston at the impressionable age of 13.

Lorillard Inc, the manufacturer of Newport, Maverick and True cigarettes announces its first-quarter profit to register a 26% surge Monday triggered by domestic product shipments and soaring prices.

''We have achieved these results despite challenging market conditions'', Chairman, President and CEO Martin Orlowsky said in a statement.

Lorillard Inc. on Monday reported that its fourth-quarter profit fell by 6% as the maker of Newport cigarettes encounters higher manufacturing costs, pension and legal expenses.

Still, the cigarette maker claims its full-year decline was much less than the 8.6 percent slip that was the industry average.