A federal appellate court thwarted efforts by tobacco companies to overturn a multimillion-dollar judgment against them, while pointing to the “unique and difficult challenge” Florida Supreme Court’s Engle ruling created for courts and juries.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit shut down a multi-prong challenge by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris USA Inc., which sought to overturn $7.5 million in compensatory and punitive damages for plaintiff Pauline Burkhart.