Alex Alvarez delivers his closing argument at trial against Philip Morris over the lung cancer death of a long-time smoker. Jurors awarded $50 million and found Philip Morris 75 percent responsible. Watch the trial. 

Miami, FL—Jurors earlier this month handed down a $50 million verdict for the cancer death of a Florida woman who smoked Philip Morris’ Virginia Slims cigarettes for years, and they found the company 75 percent responsible for her disease. Lipp v. Philip Morris, 2017-CA-018509.

There’s sometimes a tendency for defense attorneys to focus exclusively on the facts of their case rather than trying to tell the story of their clients. But in the latest episode of Trial Technique Spotlight, noted jury consultant Shane Read says that’s a mistake. And he details why a defense attorney’s powerful opening story about the hospital at the heart of a headline-grabbing baby formula case paved the way for a defense win.

CVN screenshot of defense attorney Daniel Rodman delivering his closing argument