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I am very proud to have been the expert financial witness in the Engle class action trial against the tobacco cartel (which resulted in the largest verdict in history).  I testified that the tobacco cartel could afford and should pay $145 BILLION in punitive damages.  The tobacco cartel's expert witness testified that it could afford and should pay only $20 MILLION in damages.  As indicated below, the jury awarded $145 billion, the largest verdict in history (currently on appeal).  If you or someone you know is interested in suing the tobacco cartel, you can find a lawyer at http://www.ttlaonline.com/toppage1.htm.

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Tobacco Cartel Loses Again
Tue Jun 11, 6:23 PM ET

MIAMI (Reuters) - A jury in Miami on Tuesday ordered three U.S. tobacco companies to pay $37.5 million to a sick former smoker in a follow-on case to the landmark class-action suit that resulted in a record $145 billion judgment against cigarette makers.

Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., a unit of British American Tobacco Plc , and Philip Morris Cos. Inc. said the jury in the 11th Judicial Circuit Court for Miami-Dade County found in favor of plaintiff John Lukacs, 76, who claims that his use of cigarettes caused him to develop diseases.

In July 2000, a Florida jury, in what has become known as the Engle case, stunned tobacco companies by ordering them to pay $145 billion to sick smokers, the highest punitive damages award in U.S. history. The case is on appeal in the Florida Third District Court of Appeals and the Lukacs verdict will be subject to the outcome of the Engle appeal.

Both companies said they intend to appeal the verdict. A ruling on the appeal from Florida's Third District Court of Appeals in Miami is not expected before late 2002.

"We remain confident that the appeals courts will reverse both this verdict and Engle," said Jeff Raborn, attorney for Brown & Williamson, in a written statement.

Joseph W. Cherner, President
SmokeFree Educational Services, Inc.
http://www.smokefree.org

 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."       Margaret Mead

 

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