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Atlanta—Jurors next week will consider whether medical negligence or a vicious infection caused the death of a man who first came to a Marietta emergency room with head and neck swelling, as trial is scheduled to open against the medical staff that treated him. Harper v. Vick, et al., 2008-EV005552A.

Scott Schlesinger tells jurors tobacco industry marketing was designed to hide the dangers of smoking and led to Virginia Varner's icotine addiction and death. Varner's husband Joseph is suing R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris, makers of the cigarettes his wife smoked. 

Fort Lauderdale, FL—Attorneys battled over whether tobacco industry deception or a smoker’s own decisions caused her fatal lung cancer, as trial opened against R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris Tuesday. Varner v. R.J. Reynolds.

Kenneth Reilly delivers his closing statement for Philip Morris, accused along with R.J. Reynolds of responsibility for Myra Sermons' lung cancer and emphysema. Jurors found the companies liable but awarded only $133,300, a fraction of the more than $4.7 million Sermons' son sought in compensatory damages alone. 

Jacksonville, FL—While the nation’s two largest tobacco companies were found partially liable for causing a Florida smoker's lung disease and cancer, jurors placed the lion’s share of responsibility on the smoker and awarded only a fraction of the damages her son sought. Sermons v. R.J. Reynolds, 2008-CA-000397. 

Sumner Redstone's attorney Robert Klieger argues that a lawsuit challenging his client's mental competency should be dismissed. Click here to see video from the hearing. 

Canton - Attorneys for Sumner Redstone and daughter Shari Redstone asked a Massachusetts probate judge on Thursday to throw out a lawsuit claiming the ailing 93-year-old media mogul is mentally incompetent, in a case that could determine control of major companies like Viacom, CBS Corp. and Paramount.

Plaintiff's attorney Nick Rowley delivers his closing argument. Click here to see video from the trial. 

Bakersfield - The Kern County School District reached a $10.5 million settlement on Wednesday with a student who suffered a traumatic brain injury at a rowdy football rally during the second day of a damages trial after jurors found the school district 100 percent liable for the student’s injuries.