SCOTUS: The Year in Review

Amanda Carey | July 1, 2009

The Associated Press  released a report today detailing some of the most significant Supreme Court decisions during the past year on topics ranging from maternity leave, to voting rights, to religious monuments. Decisions welcomed by those who are libertarian-minded include the recent rulings on strip searches of 13-year olds and reverse discrimination of firefighters.  Unfortunately, the list doesn't extend much beyond that.

One of the most unusual cases involves a ten-year legal battle between a smoker's widow and $79.5 million payout from tobacco company, Philip Morris USA:

The Supreme Court left in place a $79.5 million award to a smoker's widow, ending a 10-year legal fight over the large payout. The court let stand a ruling by the Oregon Supreme Court in favor of Mayola Williams and against Altria Group Inc.'s Philip Morris USA. Williams persuaded a jury in 1999 that the company should be held accountable for misleading people into thinking cigarettes were not dangerous or addictive.

Read here for the full list.

Also, check out Jacob Sullum's take on the  $79.5 million lawsuit here.