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Addiction or Choice? Sides Focus on Health Department Worker's Drive to Smoke in Cancer Trial Against R.J. Reynolds

Posted by Meghan Gourley on Aug 24, 2016, 11:48:06 PM

 

Dr. David Burns tells jurors he believes Rebecca Fredenhagen was addicted to nicotine. Fredenhagen, who smoked for decades, died of lung cancer seven years after quitting. 


Daytona Beach, FL—A Florida health department employee smoked throughout each day for decades—while working, doing laundry, cooking, gardening, even crocheting. But she was also strong-willed and independent, and successfully quit smoking in her first serious attempt, according to testimony at trial against R.J. Reynolds, accused of addicting her to the cigarettes that caused her fatal cancer. Coursey v. R.J. Reynolds, 2013-30656-CICI. 

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

Trial Begins Over Lung Cancer Death of Chain Smoking Health Dept. Worker

Posted by Meghan Gourley on Aug 19, 2016, 5:10:50 PM

 

 

Daytona Beach, FL—Trial opened Thursday against R.J. Reynolds over the death of a Florida health department worker who chain smoked for years. Coursey v. R.J. Reynolds, 2013-30656-CICI. 

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Topics: Negligence, Products Liability, tobacco, engle, Florida, Coursey v. R.J. Reynolds

Video Vault: $55M Talc Verdict Follows Closings Comparing Johnson & Johnson to Tobacco, Asbestos Cos.

Posted by Teresa Lo on Aug 19, 2016, 2:19:58 PM

Plaintiffs' attorneys firing the first courtroom salvos in sweeping litigation over popular products face a high hurdle to success: convincing jurors a product they may have used all of their lives can cause potentially catastrophic harm. That's the hurdle The Smith Law Firm's Allen Smith overcame in landing a $55 million verdict against Johnson & Johnson for the ovarian cancer Smith says J&J's signature-brand baby powder caused his client, Gloria Ristesund. 

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Topics: Negligence, Products Liability, Ristesund v. Johnson & Johnson, Missouri, Talc

Jury Hits R.J. Reynolds for $5M in Widow's Suit over Fatal Cancer

Posted by Meghan Gourley on Aug 16, 2016, 2:26:38 PM

 

Miami, FLJurors sided with the widow of a longtime Florida smoker who died of lung cancer, awarding her $5 million in compensatory damages and rejecting claims by the tobacco company that the lawsuit was time-barred.  Mathis v. R.J. Reynolds2007-CA-47118. 

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

Ex-Insurance Exec Who Suffered Heart Disease Says Cigarettes Controlled His Life, as Trial Begins Against RJR

Posted by Meghan Gourley on Aug 12, 2016, 3:55:45 PM

 

Miami, FL—A former insurance executive who underwent open-heart surgery after smoking for 30 years told jurors cigarettes controlled his life so completely it was all he thought about by the time he finally quit, as trial against cigarette-maker R.J. Reynolds got underway this week. Wilkins v. R.J. Reynolds, 15-2007-CA-20.15-2007-CA-20. 

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