Mark Belasic delivers closing arguments on behalf of R.J. Reynolds in Doris Ewing's suit against Reynolds and Philip Morris for the respiratory disease and death of her husband, James "J.R." Ewing. Jurors awarded $240,000 in damages against Reynolds, but found James Ewing 98% responsible for his COPD and absolved Philip Morris of any liability. 

Pensacola,FL—A jury Thursday largely cleared the nation’s two largest cigarette manufacturers of responsibility for the respiratory disease and death of a decades-long smoker, awarding $240,000 in unreduced damages but finding the smoker 98% at fault. Ewing v. R.J. Reynolds, 2009-CA-002791.

Stephanie Parker delivers closing arguments for R.J. Reynolds in Janice Rounds' suit claiming the company's concealment of smoking's dangers led to her husband's nicotine addiction and cancer. Jurors Tuesday found in favor of R.J. Reynolds.

Daytona Beach, FL—Jurors Tuesday found tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds not liable for the lung cancer that killed a Florida hospital worker who smoked for more than 35 years. Rounds v. R.J. Reynolds, 2013-32607-CICI.

Richard Diaz says a decades-long tobacco industry conspiracy led to James "J.R." Ewing's nicotine addiction and respiratory disease. Ewing died in 2009, and his wife, Doris Ewing, is suing cigarette makers R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris. 

Pensacola, FL—Attorneys drew battle lines over the reasons behind a long-time smoker’s respiratory disease as trial opened last week in a suit by his widow against the makers of the cigarettes her husband smoked.  Ewing v. R.J. Reynolds, 2009-CA-002791.

Cory Hohnbaum tells jurors Mary Howles smoked despite knowing the dangers of cigarettes. Howles is suing Philip Morris and Hohnbaum's client, R.J. Reynolds, claiming the tobacco companies are responsible for her cancer and respiratory disease. 

Fort Lauderdale, FL—Attorneys debated what drove a Florida nurse to smoke up to three packs of cigarettes a day for more than 30 years, before she developed lung cancer and respiratory disease, as trial opened this week in her suit against the nation’s two largest tobacco companies. Howles v. Philip Morris, et al., CACE07-34919.

Gary Paige tells jurors federal oversight and settlements should not mitigate against imposing punitive damages for Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds' role in the lung cancer death of Patricia Ledoux. 

Miami—Jurors awarded $35 million to the widower of an airline worker after finding the nation’s two largest cigarette manufacturers responsible for her fatal lung cancer. Ledoux v. R.J. Reynolds, et al., 07-CA-43991.