William Bird tells jurors medical negligence caused Kenneth Harper's 2006 death during openings in his wife's suit against two specialists who treated her husband. 

Atlanta—Attorneys Tuesday debated whether doctor error or sepsis stemming from a terminal bone marrow disease killed a hospital patient, as trial began against two specialists who treated him. Harper v. Vick, et al., 08EV005552.

Dr. Ronald Gup, a pulmonologist who diagnosed Virginia Varner with cancer and COPD, under cross-exam. 

Fort Lauderdale, FL — A pulmonologist who treated a woman who smoked up to two packs of cigarettes a day for 40 years testified he would consider such a smoker, “by definition,” addicted to nicotine, as trial over the woman's fatal cancer continued against the nation’s largest cigarette manufacturers. Varner v. R.J. Reynolds.

Stock image. 

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.