Lung

Massachusetts Jury Awards $40.57 Million to Family Over Cigarette-Related Lung Cancer Death

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Woburn, Massachusetts — A jury trial this week concluded with a $40.57 million verdict against the country’s two leading cigarette manufacturers, Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds. The jury found the companies liable for the lung cancer death of 54-year-old Jose Amaral, who passed away in 2019. The jury in the Middlesex County Superior Court reached its decision after five days of deliberations. They determined that cigarettes produced by both Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds were defectively designed, contributing to Amaral’s cancer diagnosis and subsequent death. Of the total verdict, $25 million was awarded in punitive … Read more

$10 Million Verdict: Jury Holds Tobacco Giant Responsible for Massachusetts Woman’s Fatal Lung Cancer

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Springfield, MA — A jury in Massachusetts has found cigarette manufacturer R.J. Reynolds liable in the lung cancer death of a long-time smoker, ordering the company to pay over $10 million in damages. The verdict, issued after a four-day deliberation, includes $2.5 million in punitive damages and marks a notable decision on the accountability of tobacco companies in individual health crises. Jacqueline Penza, who passed away in 2018, had been a consistent smoker of Winston cigarettes, a brand produced by R.J. Reynolds, since she was a teenager. Despite being inundated with health warnings, Penza’s family … Read more

Reynolds American Faces Landmark Verdict: $200 Million Awarded in Lung Cancer Lawsuit

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BOSTON (AP) — Reynolds American is facing a nearly $200 million jury verdict award following the conclusion of a Massachusetts lawsuit involving the estate of a woman who died from lung cancer in 2018. The Boston jury awarded $24.3 million in compensatory damages, with $5 million going to each of Rita Jones’ five adult children, and an additional $150 million in punitive damages. However, it is likely that the punitive damages will be reduced significantly, if not disallowed, during the appellate stage. Similar cases involving Engle progeny lawsuits in Florida have seen substantial reductions in … Read more