March 31 (Bloomberg) — The U.S. Supreme Court dismissed Philip Morris USA Inc.’s appeal of a $79.5 million smoker award, declining to rule in a case that business groups had hoped would lead to tougher restrictions on punitive damages.

The rebuff leaves intact an award that has grown to more than $150 million with interest and, if paid in full, would set a record in an individual smoker case. Today’s action comes after a dozen years of litigation between Philip Morris, the largest U.S. cigarette maker, and Mayola Williams, whose husband died of lung cancer in 1997.