Mark Belasic delivers closing arguments on behalf of R.J. Reynolds in Doris Ewing's suit against Reynolds and Philip Morris for the respiratory disease and death of her husband, James "J.R." Ewing. Jurors awarded $240,000 in damages against Reynolds, but found James Ewing 98% responsible for his COPD and absolved Philip Morris of any liability. 

Pensacola,FL—A jury Thursday largely cleared the nation’s two largest cigarette manufacturers of responsibility for the respiratory disease and death of a decades-long smoker, awarding $240,000 in unreduced damages but finding the smoker 98% at fault. Ewing v. R.J. Reynolds, 2009-CA-002791.

Richard Diaz says a decades-long tobacco industry conspiracy led to James "J.R." Ewing's nicotine addiction and respiratory disease. Ewing died in 2009, and his wife, Doris Ewing, is suing cigarette makers R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris. 

Pensacola, FL—Attorneys drew battle lines over the reasons behind a long-time smoker’s respiratory disease as trial opened last week in a suit by his widow against the makers of the cigarettes her husband smoked.  Ewing v. R.J. Reynolds, 2009-CA-002791.