Kenneth Reilly delivers his closing statement for Philip Morris, accused along with R.J. Reynolds of responsibility for Myra Sermons' lung cancer and emphysema. Jurors found the companies liable but awarded only $133,300, a fraction of the more than $4.7 million Sermons' son sought in compensatory damages alone. 

Jacksonville, FL—While the nation’s two largest tobacco companies were found partially liable for causing a Florida smoker's lung disease and cancer, jurors placed the lion’s share of responsibility on the smoker and awarded only a fraction of the damages her son sought. Sermons v. R.J. Reynolds, 2008-CA-000397. 

Plaintiff's attorney Nick Rowley delivers his closing argument. Click here to see video from the trial. 

Bakersfield - The Kern County School District reached a $10.5 million settlement on Wednesday with a student who suffered a traumatic brain injury at a rowdy football rally during the second day of a damages trial after jurors found the school district 100 percent liable for the student’s injuries.

 UPDATE: The jury returned a verdict in the plaintiff's favor on Monday evening, and the trial will now proceed to a damages phase. 

Bakersfield - In what is likely a first at a trial in an American courtroom, a plaintiff’s attorney on Monday delivered a portion of his closing argument wearing a full-sized chicken costume in a lawsuit filed by a former high school student who claims he suffered a brain injury, when he was attacked at a rowdy football rally while wearing a similar outfit.

Miami—Jurors Tuesday cleared R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris of fault for the lung cancer that killed a Florida smoker. Mooney v. R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris, 2011-CA-40815.

Kevin Boyce delivers the opening statement for R.J. Reynolds at trial over the COPD death of Totsie Fleming, a smoker for 60 years. Judge John Kest decalred a mistrial in the case Tuesday because Boyce suffered unexpected health problems.