19 July 2014
Last updated at 19:26 ET
RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company was hit with the punitive fine in addition to $16.8m (£9.8m) in compensatory damages.
Cynthia Robinson took action against the firm in 2008, seeking compensation for her husband's death in 1996.
An official at the company said the court's verdict was "far beyond the realm of reasonableness and fairness".
During the four-week trial, lawyers for Ms Robinson argued that RJ Reynolds was negligent in informing consumers of the dangers of consuming tobacco.
This negligence, the lawyers said, led to her husband Michael Johnson Sr contracting lung cancer from smoking after becoming "addicted" and failing multiple attempts to quit.
'A message for tobacco firms'
RJ Reynolds told to pay wife of cancer victim $23.6bn
The only US tobacco company bigger than RJ Reynolds, which owns the Camel brand, is Philip Morris
A
US court has ordered the country's second largest cigarette company to
pay $23.6 billion (£13.8bn) to the wife of a smoker who died of lung
cancer.
Cynthia Robinson took action against the firm in 2008, seeking compensation for her husband's death in 1996.
An official at the company said the court's verdict was "far beyond the realm of reasonableness and fairness".
During the four-week trial, lawyers for Ms Robinson argued that RJ Reynolds was negligent in informing consumers of the dangers of consuming tobacco.
This negligence, the lawyers said, led to her husband Michael Johnson Sr contracting lung cancer from smoking after becoming "addicted" and failing multiple attempts to quit.
'A message for tobacco firms'
"RJ Reynolds took a calculated risk by manufacturing
cigarettes and selling them to consumers without properly informing them
of the hazards," Ms Robinson's lawyer Willie Gary said.
"We hope that this verdict will send a message to RJ Reynolds and other big tobacco companies that will force them to stop putting the lives of innocent people in jeopardy," he added.
RJ Reynolds plans to appeal against the court's decision, vice president and assistant general counsel Jeffery Raborn said in a statement.
"This verdict goes far beyond the realm of reasonableness and fairness, and is completely inconsistent with the evidence presented," Mr Raborn said.
The punitive damages awarded to Ms Robinson were said to be the largest of any individual case stemming from a class action lawsuit filed in Florida.
Several similar cases have resulted in smaller payouts after the state's highest court ruled that smokers and their families only had to prove addiction and that smoking caused their illness.
"We hope that this verdict will send a message to RJ Reynolds and other big tobacco companies that will force them to stop putting the lives of innocent people in jeopardy," he added.
RJ Reynolds plans to appeal against the court's decision, vice president and assistant general counsel Jeffery Raborn said in a statement.
"This verdict goes far beyond the realm of reasonableness and fairness, and is completely inconsistent with the evidence presented," Mr Raborn said.
The punitive damages awarded to Ms Robinson were said to be the largest of any individual case stemming from a class action lawsuit filed in Florida.
Several similar cases have resulted in smaller payouts after the state's highest court ruled that smokers and their families only had to prove addiction and that smoking caused their illness.
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NineMSN Finance Florida jury slaps RJ Reynolds with $25b fine 28 mins ago
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New Zealand Herald Tobacco company to pay $24b in damages 41 mins ago
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Washington Post Florida jury slams R.J. Reynolds with $23.6 billion in damages 2 hrs ago
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Huffington Post Canada Florida jury slams tobacco company with $23.6B in punitive damages in widow's lawsuit 3 hrs ago
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CTV News U.S. tobacco company hit with $23.6B in punitive damages after widow's lawsuit 3 hrs ago
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