Daniel Seidman tells jurors Robert Shulman was so dependent on nicotine that he suffered withdrawal symptoms similar to clinical depression when he tried to quit smoking. Shulman, 94, claims his nicotine addiction caused his bladder cancer and heart and pulmonary disease. 

Update: Dr. Magdi Hanafi, the gynecologist that performed a 2007 hysterectomy on Tammy Toomer, prevailed Monday evening in Toomer's suit claiming Hanafi forged her signature on consent forms and negligently performed the procedure.

Jurors deliberated for four hours before clearing Hanafi on claims ranging from medical malpractice to fraud. The decision capped a week-long trial and followed a closing in which Toomer's attorneys requested up to $5 million, plus attorney fees in the case. 

CVN will publish video of the trial as soon as it is available. 

Atlanta, GA—Trial begins today in Fulton County State Court in a medical malpractice case involving a gynecologist who is accused of forging his patient’s signature to a consent form for a hysterectomy he performed on her. Tammy Toomer v. Magdi Hanafi, MD et al. (09EV006809).

Matthew Schultz delivers closing arguments in his client Micah Danielson's suit against Philip Morris for the lung cancer death of her husband, Lamar. Jurors awarded $325,000 in punitives Thursday, bringing the total jury verdict to $650,000. 

Pensacola, FL—Philip Morris was found liable for $325,000 in punitive damages Thursday for its role in the lung cancer death of a 42-year-old mortician who smoked the company's Marlboro cigarettes for most of his life. Danielson v. Philip Morris, 2007-CA-002737.

William Geraghty delivers closing arguments on behalf of Philip Morris in Micah Danielson's suit against the company. Danielson's husband, Lamar Danielson, died of lung cancer at 42, after 25 years of smoking primarily Philip Morris cigarettes. Jurors awarded $325,000, plus potential punitive damages, to Danielson's family Wednesday. 

Pensacola, FL—Jurors Wednesday found Philip Morris responsible for the nicotine addiction and cancer death of a 42-year-old Florida mortician who smoked for more than 25 years. But, they failed to follow instructions to award more than $2.3 million in economic damages, issuing only $325,000 in compensatories, plus potential punitives, instead. Danielson v. Philip Morris, 2007-CA-002737.

Conyers, GA—Jurors awarded more than $2 million in a suit against a Conyers entrepreneur and his company on an allegedly fraudulent lease guarantee. TrackFinders Music Group, Inc. d/b/a MC2 Funding Group, Inc. v. The Baoming Group, LLC et al. (2013-sv-1202)