Jump to full article: Gainesville (FL) Sun, 2010-03-12
Author: Diane Chun Staff writer
Intro: A jury in Alachua County has awarded $12.5 million in punitive damages to Amanda Jean Hall in her suit against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
The jury returned with this finding on Friday afternoon. . . .
Attorneys for the Hall family were asking for $15 million dollars in compensatory damages.
Also key to the case was the question of whether the tobacco company concealed or omitted information regarding the dangerous health effects of cigarettes. . . .
Speaking for the tobacco company, attorney Dennis Murphy said the case was indeed about choices but should focus on the personal choices made by Lamar Hall, who began smoking at 14 and continued for 38 years.
"Mr. Hall's death could not be proven to be caused by smoking," Murphy said in his closing statement, noting that Hall was aware of the risks, he could have quit smoking and nothing R.J. Reynolds did had any effect on his behavior.
He also suggested that Hall's lung cancer could be a result of the 30 years he spent working as a carpenter.
The evidence, Murphy contended, shows that Hall was 100 percent responsible for his actions, and the tobacco company had no such responsibility.
Hall died in 1995; his death certificate lists the cause of death as lung cancer.
Jump to full article »
Quotes from this article:
Lamar Hall was the perfect victim of the biggest conspiracy you will ever hear about.
Attorney Rod Smith, in closing arguments.
|