Jump to full article: AP, 2005-11-29
Author: BILL KACZOR Associated Press
Intro: A Florida Supreme Court decision could clear the way for trials on up to 3,000 secondhand smoking claims against the tobacco industry by flight attendants, a plaintiffs' lawyer said Tuesday.
The justices, citing lack of jurisdiction, refused Monday to consider an appeal by tobacco companies against a $500,000 award to former TWA flight attendant Lynn French. She suffers from respiratory illnesses and chronic sinusitis that she blames on secondhand smoke inhaled while working in airliner cabins.
French's case interpreted a $349 million settlement reached in 1997 between the tobacco industry and nonsmoking flight attendants in a class action lawsuit.
A series of mini-trials will decide whether individual flight attendants are entitled to additional damages and, if so, how much each should receive. Most of those trials have been on hold pending the outcome of French's case.
"Now, they have a road map as to how the cases are supposed to be tried," said Rhonda Weinstein, one of French's lawyers.
There will be no further appeal, said John Sorrells, spokesman for Altria
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