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R.J. Reynolds Prevails in Musician's $1.9M Suit Claiming Smoking Caused COPD

Posted by Arlin Crisco on Nov 25, 2015 2:22:00 PM

Frank Bayuk argues Cynthia Green failed to establish the nicotine addiction or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease she needed to prove in order to recover in her suit against R.J. Reynolds. Watch closings in the case. 


Miami—Jurors Tuesday found a South Florida musician did not suffer from the respiratory disease she claimed was caused by decades of smoking, giving R.J. Reynolds the win in her $1.9 million suit against the tobacco giant. Green v. R.J. Reynolds, 2007-CA-046326.

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Topics: Negligence, tobacco, Engle Progeny, Florida, product liability, green v. R.J. Reynolds

Update: R.J. Reynolds, Philip Morris Hit with $11M in Damages For Restaurateur's Fatal Lung Cancer

Posted by Arlin Crisco on Nov 18, 2015 12:19:32 AM

Brent Bigger delivers closing arguments for his client, Phyllis Barbose. Jurors awarded Barbose $10 million plus potential punitives in her suit against R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris. 


Update 11/18/2015: Jurors imposed a $1 million punitive verdict against Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds Wednesday afternoon, splitting the penalty equally between the two tobacco companies. The jury reached its decision following about an hour of deliberations and closing arguments in which Phyllis Barbose's attorney, Knopf Bigger's Brent Bigger, requested $20 million in punitives. 

The decision on punitives brings the case's total damage award to $11 million. 

Clearwater, FL—Jurors this afternoon awarded $10 million, plus potential punitive damages, to the widow of a pizzeria owner who claimed the country’s two largest cigarette manufacturers are responsible for her husband’s 47-year nicotine addiction and his fatal lung cancer. Barbose v. Philip Morris, 2014CA003532.

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

Nonagenarian's Motivation to Quit Smoking Questioned in Trial Against Big Three Tobacco Companies

Posted by Arlin Crisco on Nov 11, 2015 7:11:24 PM

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. 

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Topics: Negligence, Products Liability, tobacco, Engle Progeny, Florida, Shulman v. R.J. Reynolds, et al.

$325K in Punitives Against Philip Morris Doubles Verdict in Trial Over Mortician's Lung Cancer Death

Posted by Arlin Crisco on Nov 6, 2015 4:18:33 PM

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.

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

Jury Disregards Instructions, Awards $325K to Mortician's Family, Plus Punitives TBD, in Suit Against Philip Morris

Posted by Arlin Crisco on Nov 4, 2015 10:09:12 PM

 

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.

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