Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


9

Florida Jury Awards $8M to Smoker's Family

Philip Morris vows to appeal verdict

Share

(Newser) – Philip Morris must pay $8 million to the widow and son of a 55-year-old lung cancer victim, a Florida jury says. Jurors in the closely watched case decided that the cigarette maker hid the health risks and addictive qualities of cigarettes, the Miami Herald reports. Stuart Hess smoked about two packs daily for 40 years, and the company says Hess was responsible for his own health. It plans to appeal.

''I just really hope that this can help all the thousands of other families who have also suffered,'' said widow Elaine Hess, who had sought $131 million in damages. The case is the first of 8,000 similar lawsuits to go to trial. All of them are offshoots of a 2000 class-action suit in Florida that resulted in an overturned judgment against tobacco companies but left the door open to future litigation.

The tobacco lawsuit could set a precedent for 8,000 other cases awaiting trial in Florida.
The tobacco lawsuit could set a precedent for 8,000 other cases awaiting trial in Florida.   (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Philip Morris says it will appeal the verdict, which awards $8 million to the widow and son of a man who died from lung cancer at 55.
Philip Morris says it will appeal the verdict, which awards $8 million to the widow and son of a man who died from lung cancer at 55.   (AP Photo/Mel Evans, file)
The company argued that Hess chose to smoke and was not addicted. Hess, in fact, tried many times to quit, but failed.
The company argued that Hess chose to smoke and was not addicted. Hess, in fact, tried many times to quit, but failed.   (AP Photo/George Widman)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

We'll file an appeal. We'll defend this vigorously, just like we will all other cases and anticipate a positive outcome on appeal. - Kenneth Reilly, Philip Morris' lawyer

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
9 comments
VIEWING:
 
NutsInNY
Feb 18, 09 5:38 PM CST
Keep suicide legal! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
SPH
Feb 18, 09 6:08 PM CST
And painless.....
Vote up! Vote down!
0
AmericaPrevails
Feb 18, 09 6:41 PM CST
And pay the family they leave behind to help with the greiving and the funeral costs. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
terryzz
Feb 18, 09 6:49 PM CST
Geez, it's like hot coffee, fireplaces, bungee jumping, there are enough moronic jurors out there; why don't alcoholics sue for divorces,violence, car accidents, liver sclerosis etc ? The plaintiffs are parasites. S.S. disability apparently doesn't pay enough. GET A JOB ! Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
NutsInNY
Feb 18, 09 6:56 PM CST
And we could take a product off the market that is known to be addictive and to kill people... I'm just sayin'.
Vote up! Vote down!
0

View all 9 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

59 Stories

 More Americans Smoking 

Rates tick up slightly after holding steady for 5 years

Nov 12, 09 8:29 PM CST
(Newser) - The number of smokers has ticked up a notch after five years of decline or holding steady. The percentage of Americans who light up rose from 19.8% in 2007 to 20.6% in 2008, a CDC report says. The longer-term picture is better: Since 1998, the percentage has dropped... More »

MORE ABOUT:
smoking • smoking cessation • cigarette • anti-smoking • CDC

fired up

 Cigarette Butts Are 
 Toxic Waste: Study 

Cigarette-soaked water kills fish

Nov 9, 09 5:30 PM CST
(Newser) - The chemicals in cigarette butts are lethal to fish, and the finding is bolstering researchers who want coffin nails classified as toxic waste. San Diego State University researchers submerged filters from smoked cigarettes in tanks of water for 24 hours, then added fish. Within 5 days, half the fish died.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
pollution • smoking • ocean • fish • carcinogens • toxic waste • cigarette

Clove Cigarettes Banned: Enter Clove 'Small Cigars'

FDA, importer disagree over definition of a cigarette

Oct 27, 09 4:05 PM CDT
(Newser) - For one California importer of smokes, an awful lot has come to rest on the precise definition of a cigar. After a ban on clove cigarettes went into effect last month, Kretek International slyly began importing Djarum-brand clove “small cigars." They're quite similar to Djarum’s clove cigarettes,... More »

MORE ABOUT:
FDA • smoking • tobacco • anti-smoking • cigars • flavored cigarettes

59 Stories


Ruling is major setback for company
Reuters

Quit marketing to women: health groups
US News & World Report

Some tobacco suits are unfair
South Florida Sun-Sentinel


US  •  Business 
TwitterFollow @NewserUS on Twitter

 
smoking • tobacco • Philip Morris • civil lawsuits • tobacco companies • cigarette

from our news partners

CinemaBlend.com