Juan Bauta argues Florence Monroe's throat cancer was caused by years of smoking R.J. Reynolds-brand cigarettes.
Quincy, FL—Jurors Wednesday awarded $11 million to a former smoker for the role they found R.J. Reynolds played in causing the throat cancer that took her voice box. Florence Monroe v. R.J. Reynolds, 2013-CA-001121.
Topics: Negligence, Products Liability, tobacco, Engle Progeny, Florida, Monroe v. R.J. Reynolds
Adam Trop delivers opening statements in Roland Ledoux's suit against Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds for the lung cancer death of Ledoux's wife Patricia Ledoux.
Miami—Attorneys for a Florida widower whose wife died from lung cancer told jurors her disease was caused by a tobacco industry conspiracy that addicted her to nicotine for more than 40 years, as trial opened Monday against the nation’s two largest cigarette makers. Roland Ledoux v. R.J. Reynolds, et al. 2007-CA-43991.
Topics: Negligence, Products Liability, Engle Progeny, Florida, Ledoux v. R.J. Reynolds
As critical as a well-prepared closing is, sometimes the moments with the biggest impact are delivered as a counterpunch to a remark by opposing counsel. That’s how James Butler framed the 60 seconds of silence during rebuttal argument in Walden v. Chrysler Group LLC.
Topics: Negligence, Products Liability, Georgia, Video Highlight, Walden v. Chrysler Group LLC
Scott Schlesinger delivers closing arguments on behalf of his client, Robert Shulman, who claims the concealment of smoking's dangers by the nation's three largest tobacco companies caused his cancer, heart, and respiratory diseases. Jurors last week found in favor of the tobacco companies.
West Palm Beach, FL—Jurors last week cleared the nation’s three largest tobacco companies of liability for the cancer and heart and lung diseases a 95-year-old former former pilot claims stemmed from more than four decades of smoking. Shulman v. R.J. Reynolds, et al. 2007-CA-023832.
Topics: Negligence, Products Liability, tobacco, Florida, Shulman v. R.J. Reynolds, et al.
Toxic tort cases involving dangerous exposure from decades earlier can be rife with problems linking the allegedly toxic product to your client's disease. In some cases, you'll have to ask jurors to infer connections based on limited documentary evidence and no "smoking gun" proof. James Ferraro was faced with a similar situation in a mesothelioma suit against Georgia Pacific, but, in a closing that connected the dots from wallboard to his client's cancer, won an eight-figure verdict.
Topics: Products Liability, Asbestos, Florida, Taylor v. Georgia Pacific
