John Sammon News
Mistrial declared in Philip Morris case; judge finds testimony prejudicial
MIAMI – Judge Jose Rodriguez of the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida declared a mistrial April 16 in a lawsuit filed by the estate of a deceased man whose relatives argue his premature death was caused by deadly nicotine addiction from the cigarettes produced by tobacco companies Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds.
Defense in Philip Morris trial says smoking danger was known early
FORT LAUDERDALE – The defense in a trial accusing cigarette maker Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds of damaging a woman’s lungs through addictive nicotine on Friday built on its case that the dangers of smoking were well known by the public for a long time.
Plaintiff attorneys say declining smoking industry targeted teen smokers
MIAMI – Attorneys for plaintiff Rosemary Olsen on Thursday sought to portray tobacco companies Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds targeting teenage smokers as potential saviors of an industry whose overall business in the 1980's was in danger of declining, and who created bogus front organizations to combat knowledge of the dangers of smoking.
Pulmonologist says Zingaro tobacco addicted as defense calls star plaintiff witness biased
FORT LAUDERDALE – A pulmonologist on Wednesday told a jury that plaintiff Karla Zingaro’s nicotine addiction kept her from being able to quit smoking for a long time and the damage done to her lungs is like trying to walk up a flight of stairs while breathing through a straw.
Tobacco researcher says 1 in 2 heavy smokers will die at Philip Morris-R.J. Reynolds trial
FORT LAUDERDALE – A tobacco industry researcher called as a plaintiff witness in a lawsuit accusing Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds of causing a woman’s lung cancer described an alleged conspiracy of cigarette-makers to deny the truth including a 1950s confidential statement from a tobacco official that read, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could produce a cancer-free cigarette?”
Witness for plaintiff alleges cigarette companies hid from their own research
MIAMI – A professor of the history and science of smoking told a jury April 10 in a trial accusing Philip Morris of causing a man’s death that cigarette-makers ignored their own internal findings to deny the dangers of smoking.
Opening remarks begin in trial against Philip Morris; At issue - responsibility for addiction
MIAMI – Opening arguments began Tuesday in a trial to determine if cigarette maker Phillip Morris caused a man’s smoking addiction leading him to suffer cardiovascular and coronary artery damage and eventually a debilitating stroke that left him in what plaintiff attorneys contended was a shell of his former self.
Plaintiff witness compares tobacco company’s opinion of smokers to a laboratory rat
FORT LAUDERDALE – During questioning of a tobacco industry researcher on Friday, plaintiff attorneys presented internal documents that indicated officials at Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds considered smokers their customers to be like laboratory reward-response animals.
Trial begins in Florida tobacco smoking addiction case against Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds
Opening arguments began Wednesday in the case of a woman suing tobacco companies Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds for the nicotine-fueled addiction she alleges caused her smoking-related illnesses including lung cancer, pitting plaintiff attorneys against those for the defense who contend she would have smoked no matter what.
After awarding $2.5M compensation to widow, jury decides no punitive damages against Philip Morris
A jury on Monday decided not to impose cigarette maker Philip Morris with a punitive damage award, evidently agreeing with a contention by defense attorneys that the company should not be punished for mistakes of the past.
Jurors award plaintiff $2.5 million in lung cancer death; Plaintiff sought $8 million from Philip Morris
MIAMI - Jurors on Friday hit cigarette maker Philp Morris with a $2.5 million damage award to the family of Ulysee Holliman finding the company liable for Holliman’s death from lung cancer in 1993.
Plaintiffs asking for $8 million in Philip Morris lung cancer trial
MIAMI – Closing arguments in the lawsuit filed against Philip Morris by the family of a man who died of lung cancer saw attorneys for Ulysee Holliman argue that nicotine addiction killed him and the cigarette maker conspired to fool the public on the dangers of smoking.
Psychologist says Holliman doesn’t meet addiction criteria in case against Philip Morris
A psychologist testifying in a lawsuit against cigarette maker Philip Morris—brought by the family of a man who died of lung cancer—said on Wednesday that Ulysee Holliman did not meet nine of 11 recognized characteristics of physical addiction, disagreeing with a basic contention made by attorneys for the plaintiff.
Wife of smoker in Philip Morris trial describes how he tried to quit smoking
The wife of Ulysee Holliman on Tuesday described the struggles her husband went through trying to quit smoking and the agony of watching him decline after he had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
Plaintiff witness for Holliman refuses to budge on Philip Morris conspiracy allegation
MIAMI – Defense attorneys for Philip Morris appeared to have an uphill battle on Thursday getting a plaintiff witness to back down from his opinion the cigarette maker and other tobacco companies had engaged in a collective conspiracy to hide the truth from the public about the dangers of smoking.
Cigarette historian says tobacco industry subverted knowledge to sell cigarettes
MIAMI – A Stanford University professor of history on the tobacco industry on Wednesday portrayed cigarette makers bent on covering up emerging scientific knowledge and deceiving the public about the dangers of smoking so companies like Philip Morris could continue making profits.
Specialist says tobacco addiction caused man’s death in Philip Morris trial
MIAMI – Ulysee Holliman tried to quit smoking a dozen times; he asked his wife for help, threw away his cigarettes, chewed gum, sucked candy, all to no avail. He died from lung cancer 25 years ago.
Arguments open in suit against Philip Morris alleging conspiracy in man’s death from smoking
Add Teaser hereMIAMI – Arguments began Monday in the trial to determine if a conspiracy to defraud the public by tobacco giant Philip Morris led to a man’s death from lung cancer in 1993.
More older residents on Medicaid wait list in Florida than any other state, attorney says
TAMPA – Six elderly Florida residents are alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in their lawsuit against the state over the length of time it takes them to get in-home Medicaid care.
Class action against fire retardant companies could grow into hundreds, plaintiff's attorney says
OCALA – Though the number of plaintiffs in a lawsuit alleging exposure to fire retardant chemicals caused people to develop cancer currently stands at eight, their attorney said a class action could increase the number of plaintiffs to hundreds.