On Wednesday, a Florida judge cut down an almost $300 Million verdict against the Altria Group Inc.'s Philip Morris USA unit to a mere $38.9 Million, in a lawsuit which was slapped by an ex-smoker who ended up suffering from emphysema, giving rise to speculations that a jury was moved by emotion rather than evidence.

"The court found that the jury's verdict was grossly excessive and unsupported by the evidence presented at trial", the cigarette maker today said in an official statement.

61 year old Cindy Naugle was last year awarded $56.6 Million in compensatory damages and $244 Million in punitive damages. The jury now, however, stressed that Naugle was at least 10% responsible for her problems and injuries, and pulled down the compensatory damages by the amount.

Naugle had started smoking when she was 20, and now has emphysema, cannot breathe without an oxygen bottle and needs a lung transplant.

Naugle's lawyer Bob Kelley has now said that he will appeal against the latest decision, and Philip Morris also said that it will appeal.