Kevin Boyce delivers his closing argument on behalf of R.J. Reynolds, accused of responsibility for the throat cancer that killed Louis Lawrence. Jurors Monday awarded Lawrence's widow more than $800,000 in compensatory damages and found punitives potentially warranted.

Update: Parties reached a settlement before the punitive phase of trial was scheduled to begin Wednesday. 

Ocala, FL—A Florida state court jury awarded a smoker’s widow more than $800,000 and found punitive damages potentially warranted against R.J. Reynolds for the role the company played in her husband’s fatal throat cancer.Lawrence v. R.J. Reynolds, 2009-CA-000178.  

Mark Avera delivers his opening statement at trial against R.J. Reynolds, accused of responsibility for the cancer death of Louis Lawrence. 

Ocala, FL—Attorneys argued over the role R.J. Reynolds may have played in the fatal cancer that struck a Florida farm owner who smoked for more than half his life, as trial opened against the tobacco company Thursday. Lawrence v. R.J. Reynolds, 2009-CA-000178.