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$6M Cancer Death Trial Opens as RJR Questions Link Between Smoker's Casual Cocaine Use & Claimed Smoking Addiction

Posted by Meghan Gourley on Oct 28, 2016 7:41:59 PM

Miami, FL—Lawyers began battle this week in the case of a Cuban immigrant who died of laryngeal cancer 20 years ago, as they debated whether a smoker could truly be addicted to nicotine if he could stop and start a casual casual cocaine habit. Ledo v. R.J. Reynolds, 08-113-CA-31. 

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Topics: tobacco, Engle Progeny, Florida, Ledo v. R.J. Reynolds

"Stubborn" Soldier Was Responsible for His Own Smoking, Defense Says as Trial Opens Over Lung Cancer Death

Posted by Meghan Gourley on Oct 26, 2016 6:11:28 PM

Sarasota, FL—A former military man described as hard-headed, stubborn, and having a short fuse, was completely responsible for his own smoking and could not have been dissuaded from his 3-pack-a-day habit, the defense claimed in opening statements last week in the trial against the cigarette maker charged with conspiring to sell the cigarettes that led to his lung cancer and death. Johnston v. R.J. Reynolds, 2014-CA-004023.2014-CA-004023. 

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

Experts Link Electroshock to Doctor's Claimed Brain Injury, Conclude up to $29M in Economic Damages, in Trial of Psychiatrist

Posted by Arlin Crisco on Oct 25, 2016 7:20:28 PM

Dr. Peter Breggin tells jurors he believes electroshock therapy caused Dr. Shaul Dadi's brain damage during trial against Dr. Praturi Sharma, the psychiatrist who oversaw the electroshock treatment. 

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Topics: Medical Malpractice, Florida, Dadi v. Sharma

$20M in Punitives Slams RJR, Brings Total Verdict to $29M in Trial over Smoker's Fatal COPD

Posted by Arlin Crisco on Oct 25, 2016 4:35:52 PM

Eric Rosen argues R.J. Reynolds' decades-long concealment of smoking's dangers warrants punitive damages for the death of Elaine Konzelman, who developed fatal respiratory disease after smoking the company's cigarettes for years. Jurors awarded $20 million in punitives, brining the total award to nearly $29 million in the case. 


Fort Lauderdale, FL—Jurors Tuesday imposed a $20 million punitive award against R.J. Reynolds for the role the tobacco company played in the fatal respiratory disease of a Florida smoker, bringing the total award in the case to nearly $29 million. Konzelman v. R.J. Reynolds, 2008-CV-019620.

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

$8.8M Compensatory Award Against RJR for Smoker's Death Dwarfs Plaintiff's Request, Trial on Puntives Begins

Posted by Meghan Gourley on Oct 25, 2016 3:05:49 PM

Fort Lauderdale, FL—Jurors awarded nearly $8.8 million in compensatory damages to a Florida man for the smoking-related death of his wife, and found R.J. Reynolds potentially liable for punitive damages, after concluding the tobacco company was responsible for the woman's nicotine addiction and respiratory disease.  Konzelman v. R.J. Reynolds, 2008-CV-019620.

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