Stock image. 

West Palm Beach, FL—A diving gear company prevailed Friday against claims it was responsible for the drowning death of a renowned underwater cinematographer.  Skiles v. Lamartek Inc., et al., 2012-CA-013132. 

Michael Trentalange delivers his closing argument at trial against R.J. Reynolds over the lung cancer death of Jane McCabe. Jurors Thursday awarded McCabe's children $5 million in compensatory damages and found Reynolds liable for potential punitives. 

Update 5/20/16: Jurors imposed a $6.5 million punitive award against R.J. Reynolds for its part in the death of Dorothy McCabe, a former nurse and addiction counselor who smoked for more than 50 years.

The verdict, when combined with the $5 million in compensatories the jury handed down Thursday, brings the unreduced damage award to $11.5 million in the case. 

The original story follows below. 

Tampa, FL—A jury Thursday awarded $5 million to the children of a former addiction treatment counselor who died from cancer after smoking for more than five decades, and it found R.J. Reynolds liable for potential punitive damages for its role in her death. McCabe v. R.J. Reynolds, 2007-CA-017632.

Brent Bigger delivers his closing argument in the punitive phase of proceedings against R.J. Reynolds. Jurors awarded $18 million including $12 million in punitives, to Marlene Nally for Reynolds' role in the death of her husband, Joseph, a smoker for more than 50 years. 

Lakeland, FL—Jurors this week found R.J. Reynolds liable for $18 million for the role the company played in the lung cancer death of a Korean War veteran who smoked for more than half a century. Nally v. R.J. Reynolds, 2007-CA-007627.

John Walker delivers the closing argument for the defense in George Dion's suit against R.J. Reynolds for the cancer death of his wife, Marion. Jurors awarded Dion $12 million in compensatory damages plus punitives to be determined in the trial's second phase. 

Update 5/12/16: Jurors Thursday imposed a $30,000 punitive award against R.J. Reynolds following yesterday's $12 millon compensatory verdict. Updated details follow the original story below. 

Sarasota, FL—A jury Wednesday awarded $12 million, plus potential punitive damages, to the widower of a Florida smoker for the role R.J. Reynolds played in the woman’s cancer death. Dion v. R.J. Reynolds, 13CA5673.

Dustin Herman delivers the opening statement in trial over the death of underwater filmmaker Wesley Skiles, who drowned in 2010. Skiles' wife, Terri, claims her husband died because of a defective rebreather made by Dive Rite. 

West Palm Beach, FL—Attorneys Monday debated whether defective equipment or diver error caused a renowned underwater filmmaker to drown, as trial began against the company that made the equipment. Skiles v. Lamartek Inc., et al., 2012-CA-013132.2012-CA-013132.