Tobacco.org

RJR Faces Trial Over Mississippi Smoker's Death (Update1) 

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc. this week will defend itself in a Mississippi courtroom against claims its products caused the death of a father of four who began smoking at age 10.

With the tobacco industry fresh from a victory today in Brooklyn, New York, R.J. Reynolds will try to convince a jury that Joe Nunnally's lung cancer does not entitle his family to damages. Opening arguments begin this week in Hernando, Mississippi, near Memphis. . .

Nunnally died in 1989 at age 37 after 27 years of smoking such R.J. Reynolds' brands as Salem, Camel, Winston, and Doral. He worked a variety of jobs, including acting and managing an appliance rental store and various McDonald's restaurants.

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