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BARBARA SHELLY: An end to a struggle against tobacco 

Cronan, a one-person operation, would be going up against the giants of tobacco defense. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., which manufactures the brand of cigarettes Steele preferred, was represented by Kansas City's Shook Hardy & Bacon and a Chicago firm. . . "It was a rewarding thing to do," he said. "They were very wonderful clients."

But the case involved months of work and resulted in no compensation. So the question becomes: Would he do it again?

Cronan stole a look at his wife, Kathie. She raised her eyebrows.

"If I could convince my wife," he said, "I think I would."

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Brown & Williamson Awaits Verdict in Smoking Case (Update1) 

Brown & Williamson claims Steele knew the risks of cigarettes and that the company acted responsibly in manufacturing its cigarettes.

Brown & Williamson products, ``like all cigarettes and like many other products in society, carry with them risks to health, but . . . they are not `unreasonably dangerous' under Missouri law,'' the company said.

It company also claims there is no proof Steele died as a result of smoking.

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Testimony to begin in lawsuit against Brown & Williamson Tobacco 

Federal court testimony opens this week in a civil case that alleges a major U.S. tobacco company is responsible for the lung cancer death of a Vandalia, Mo., man in 1995.

The family of Charles E. Steele filed suit against the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., in 1997, alleging the company knew its Kool brand of cigarettes were hazardous and had failed to study the harmful effects of smoking. In addition, the suit alleges the company misrepresented smoking to its customers as "socially desirable, not harmful and...beneficial to smokers." . . "Charles Edward Steele did not know that smoking cigarettes caused lung cancer, that the nicotine within the cigarettes was addictive or that he would be unable to quit smoking when he would try to," wrote J. Michael Cronan, attorney for the family.

Steele died on Oct. 4, 1995, after his lung cancer had spread to his brain.

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Charles Edward Steele did not know that smoking cigarettes caused lung cancer, that the nicotine within the cigarettes was addictive or that he would be unable to quit smoking when he would try to.
J. Michael Cronan, attorney for the Steele family. Quoted in <i>Testimony to begin in lawsuit against Brown & Williamson Tobacco</i>