Gary Paige delivers closings that set up the biggest Engle tobacco verdict of the first quarter of 2020. See below for video featuring James Gustafson.

Court closures have paused Florida’s decade-plus-long, Engle-progeny tobacco litigation. However, before courts shut down, the first three months of 2020 had already produced a slate of headline-grabbing verdicts in the cases, spun from a massive class action suit against the nation’s tobacco companies. CVN looks at the top verdicts we’ve covered so far this year.

At trial against R.J. Reynolds over a Florida’s smoker’s death, Emily Baker’s strong closing on responsibility led the jury to hand down a rare $0 damages verdict, despite linking Reynolds and its cigarettes to his fatal cancer. 

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Miami, FL—Trial against Philip Morris over the lung cancer death of a Florida woman has been suspended until the end of the month, part of coronavirus fallout that has disrupted courts across the country. Lipp v. Philip Morris, 2017-CA-018509.

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Update: Proceedings have been stayed through mid-April because of concerns over coronavirus and its impact.

Lawrenceville, GA— The lack of safety features in a tractor-trailer seat caused a trucker’s paralysis in a big rig rollover, an attorney for the trucker told jurors Tuesday as trial opened against the seat manufacturer. Hill v. Commercial Vehicle Group Inc., et al.. 17-C-07188. 

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Miami, FL— Attorneys Friday argued over who bore fault for the lung cancer that killed a 55-year-old Florida smoker, as trial opened against Philip Morris.  Lipp v. Philip Morris, 2017-CA-018509.