Subscribe-to-CVN-Blog-Graphic-small.png

Mortician Couldn't Quit Smoking Until After Developing Fatal Cancer, Widow Says in Trial Against Philip Morris

Posted by Arlin Crisco on Oct 30, 2015, 6:13:42 PM

Micah Danielson testifies her husband Lamar Danielson, a smoker for more than 25 years, could not stop smoking until after he was diagnosed with lung cancer. She claims Philip Morris hid the dangers and addictiveness of cigarettes, causing her husband's fatal cancer. 


Pensacola, FL—The widow of a Florida mortician told jurors Thursday that her husband tried unsuccessfully to stop smoking for years, but succeeded only after he was diagnosed with the cancer that eventually killed him, as trial continued in her suit against cigarette maker Philip Morris. 

Read More

Topics: Products Liability, tobacco, Engle Progeny, Florida, Danielson v. Philip Morris

Mentally Ill Man Overdosed On Drugs Sold By His Nurse, Jury Told

Posted by David Siegel on Oct 29, 2015, 1:37:00 PM

Plaintiff's attorney John Marcin shows jurors a picture of the wrapper for the Fentanyl patch that he claims was illegally sold to his client's mentally ill son. Click here to see video from the trial. 

Read More

Topics: Pharmaceutical, healthcare, California

Buckhead Spinout Leads to $1+ Million Verdict for Injured Driver

Posted by Steve Silver on Oct 28, 2015, 3:24:34 PM


Atlanta—A driver who went for a wild ride at a busy Atlanta intersection after being spun out in a collision had a much safer trip in Fulton County State Court when the jury awarded her over $1 million in her personal injury suit against the driver who hit her. Felicia Cheek v. Julia Demmer (14EV000550)

Read More

Topics: Negligence, Georgia

Breaking Verdict Update: $36M Award in Wrongful Death Med Mal Case, Non-Party Doctor Found Largely At Fault

Posted by Steve Silver on Oct 27, 2015, 4:09:00 PM


Update November 12, 2015, 7:21 p.m.:  

Jurors this afternoon awarded $36 million to plaintiffs, including $11 million for wrongful death and $25 million for the estate's claim (which include medical expenses, pain and suffering, and funeral expenses). However, the award will be reduced significantly by the jurors' apportionment of 12.5% fault to defendant North Fulton Medical Center and assignment of no fault to the remaining defendants. 

Jurors assigned 87.5% of responibility to Dr. Harry Rutland, who had reached an earlier settlement with the plaintiffs and was not a party to the trial. 

CVN will have more on the case, as well as gavel-to gavel coverage of the trial on demand, as soon as it becomes available. 

Atlanta—The defense table is likely to be very crowded in Judge Jay Roth’s courtroom in Fulton County State Court this week as six different law firms present separate defenses for the various defendants in a wrongful death med mal case. However, one physician that the jury might well find substantially responsible for Sonya DuBose’s 2012 death will not be present at the defense table, having reached a settlement with the plaintiffs prior to the lawsuit being filed. Courtroom View Network is on hand to provide gavel-to-gavel coverage of one of the most complex Georgia malpractice trials in recent years. Anthony Marion et al. v. W. Glover Little MD et al. (13EV016954).

Read More

R.J. Reynolds Prevails in $9M Suit Over Smoker's Deadly Lung Cancer

Posted by Arlin Crisco on Oct 26, 2015, 2:50:00 PM

Randall Bassett tells jurors David Robertson was not a "tortured" smoker addicted to nicotine during closings of Irene Robertson's suit against Bassett's client, R.J. Reynolds. The tobacco company prevailed Monday against Irene Roberton's claim that Reynolds' was liable for her husband's nicotine addiction and fatal cancer. Watch the trial.


Fort Lauderdale, FL—Jurors Monday cleared R.J. Reynolds of liability for the lung cancer death of a Florida plaster worker who smoked for more than five decades. Robertson v. R.J. Reynolds, 07-CV-36442.

The six-member jury answered no to the preliminary question of whether David Robertson, the smoker at the case’s heart, was addicted to nicotine that caused his lung cancer. 

Read More

Topics: Negligence, Products Liability, tobacco, Engle Progeny, Florida, Robertson v. R.J. Reynolds