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Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Phillip Morris Ordered to Pay $8 Million in Personal Injury Case
Lawsuits against tobacco companies don’t make the news today as they did years ago. That doesn’t mean they’re not being filed. In the past, tobacco companies lost few lawsuits, but that trend seems to be changing as several major judgments have been decided against them, recently. An Oregon jury awarded $79.5 million in one case. Phillip Morris is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court, encouraged by appeals in other cases that resulted in reversals or repeals of the original decisions.
In a case that began February 2, Elaine Hess was awarded $3 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages by a six-member Florida jury. Her suit against Phillip Morris USA was over the loss of her husband, a smoker who died in 1997 as a result of smoking-related illness.
The tobacco industry continues to claim that smokers can quit at any time, and that tobacco is not addictive. Apparently, they aren’t fooling the juries any more. The jury found that Hess’ husband was hopelessly addicted, though 58% responsible for his addiction. They decided this despite Phillip Morris’ attorneys’ efforts to show evidence that he was able to quit smoking.
In light of so much medical and scientific evidence that smoking is both addictive and dangerous, causing dozens of diseases, worsening others, and causing death from these diseases, smokers who have tried and failed to quit smoking may be victims of a dangerous product.
If you contracted an illness caused by a product that is promoted as safe, you may have a valid product liability claim. Please contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm in Dothan, Alabama for a case review. We have offices in major cities across the United States with experienced personal injury and product liability attorneys who can schedule a consultation for you.
In a case that began February 2, Elaine Hess was awarded $3 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages by a six-member Florida jury. Her suit against Phillip Morris USA was over the loss of her husband, a smoker who died in 1997 as a result of smoking-related illness.
The tobacco industry continues to claim that smokers can quit at any time, and that tobacco is not addictive. Apparently, they aren’t fooling the juries any more. The jury found that Hess’ husband was hopelessly addicted, though 58% responsible for his addiction. They decided this despite Phillip Morris’ attorneys’ efforts to show evidence that he was able to quit smoking.
In light of so much medical and scientific evidence that smoking is both addictive and dangerous, causing dozens of diseases, worsening others, and causing death from these diseases, smokers who have tried and failed to quit smoking may be victims of a dangerous product.
If you contracted an illness caused by a product that is promoted as safe, you may have a valid product liability claim. Please contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at The Cochran Firm in Dothan, Alabama for a case review. We have offices in major cities across the United States with experienced personal injury and product liability attorneys who can schedule a consultation for you.
Labels: Dothan
posted by Benjamin A. Irwin at 11:47 AM
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