William Geraghty delivers closing arguments on behalf of Philip Morris in Bernice McCall's suit against the company. Jurors awarded McCall $350,000 in compensatory damages and rejected her claim for punitives, after finding an addiction to cigarettes caused her husband's lung cancer but not his death. 

Fort Lauderdale—Jurors Wednesday awarded $350,000 to the widow of an alcohol abuse counselor who developed cancer after 40 years of smoking, but rejected the case's wrongful death claim and cleared cigarette maker Philip Morris  of the lion’s share of liability. McCall v. Philip Morris, 2007-CV-036888.

Lloyd Bell delivers closing arguments in trial of Shawn Evans' claim that ER staff failed to appropriately care for his wife Janice Evans, leading to strokes that left her permanently disabled. 

Update: 3/1/16 

Decatur, Ga—Jurors Monday awarded $1.2 million to a Georgia couple for the strokes that left a woman permanently disabled, but found the woman 49% responsible and cleared the doctor who treated her of liability. Evans v. Sutton, et al, 13A48465-4.

Jason Keehfus delivers the closing argument on behalf of R.J. Reynolds in Elizabeth Smith's suit against Reynolds and Philip Morris. Jurors Monday found her claimed smoking-related diseases did not develop within the time allowed for membership in a class action against the companies. 

West Palm Beach, FL—A jury Monday concluded a Florida woman did not have cancer or respiratory disease within the time required for membership in a class action against the nation’s tobacco companies, clearing Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds of liability in her suit. Smith v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., et al., 2007-CA-023930.

Decatur, GA—Attorneys Wednesday sparred over responsibility for the strokes that caused lifelong brain damage to a Georgia woman, as trial opened in her husband’s suit against the emergency room staff that treated her. Evans v. Sutton, et al, 13A48465-4.

Decatur, GA—Trial is scheduled to begin next week in a suit by a man who claims a Conyers hospital’s medical staff failed to properly treat his wife’s aneurysm in time to prevent a series of strokes that caused her life-long brain damage. Evans v. Sutton, et al, 13A48465-4.