CHICAGO (Reuters) - R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. said Tuesday that a jury in U.S. court in Seattle found in its favor in a lawsuit brought by the husband of a deceased former smoker.

Phillip Kimball had filed the suit as the estate administrator of his late wife, Carla Kimball, who died in 2001, 11 years after she had quit smoking, the company said.

R.J. Reynolds, which is owned by Reynolds American Inc (up $0.37 to $111.92, Research), said the jury in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle gave its verdict late Monday. Kimball had filed the suit in 2003 and the trial had started in early May.

Kimball had asked for more than $10 million in damages, claiming his wife developed lung cancer and died after smoking Winston and Winston Lights 100s cigarettes, which are made by R.J. Reynolds.

"The plaintiff was well aware of the risks of smoking," Jeff Raborn, senior counsel for R.J. Reynolds, said in a statement. "In fact, the jury found that Mrs. Kimball was aware of the risks of smoking, and she knowingly assumed those risks. We obviously agree with this decision."

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