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Update: This article has been updated from an earlier version to reflect the jury verdict in favor of Philip Morris.

Miami, FL — Jurors late last week cleared Philip Morris of responsibility for the stroke a long-time smoker suffered, concluding Florida's first in-person, state court tobacco trial since the coronavirus pandemic emptied jury boxes a year ago. Olsen v. Philip Morris, 2017-CA-017150. 

For the latest installment in Courtroom View Network’s ongoing “BigLaw Spotlight” series highlighting the powerhouse white shoe firms represented in CVN’s one-of-a-kind on line trial video library, we focus on trials in the CVN archive featuring Atlanta-based defense giant King & Spalding LLP.

Alex Alvarez, left, and Steven Geise, right, deliver their closing arguments at trial against R.J. Reynolds over the lung cancer an Oregon woman developed after decades of smoking Camel-brand cigarettes.

Portland, OR— Jurors Friday afternoon cleared R.J. Reynolds of responsibility for the terminal lung cancer an Oregon woman developed after decades of smoking the company's cigarettes, concluding what is likely the first in-person, state court tobacco trial in nearly a year. Rickman v. R.J. Reynolds, 19CV28636. 

Tallahassee, FL— A Florida state appeals court last week reversed a $15.5 million total award in a case against R.J. Reynolds over the throat cancer death of a long-time smoker.