Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyers

Several years ago, states around the country and their Attorneys General brought class action lawsuits against the tobacco manufacturers for disseminating products onto the market that they allegedly knew were defective and deadly. Many of these lawsuits were settled, and some of the settlements contained terms that would disallow additional claims against these companies.

However, individuals can still bring legal claims against the tobacco companies for the health problems and deaths that cigarettes and other tobacco products caused. One such action was decided by a jury in Broward County yesterday, when the panel awarded more than $5 million to the widower of a woman who died from lung cancer. According to an update provided by the Sun-Sentinel:

“A jury in South Florida has awarded more than $5 million in compensatory damages to a 92-year-old man whose wife died of lung cancer.

A jury in Broward County Circuit Court decided on Thursday that Philip Morris USA Inc. should pay millions to Leon Barbanell, whose wife, Shirley, died in 1996 at age 73.

In a statement, Philip Morris said it planned to appeal.

Murray Garnick, Altria Client Services senior vice president and associate general counsel, spoke on behalf of Philip Morris USA in the statement, saying the verdict was the result of a “severely prejudicial trial plan.”

It’s no surprise that the defendant plans to appeal, as that seems to be the norm when such a trial produces a result that’s not positive from their perspective. What can be said is that tobacco companies are still being held accountable for the health problems they caused. If you or someone you love has been harmed as a result of tobacco products, you need to work with Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyers who understand how to hold defendants accountable, even if they are enormous and powerful corporations. Contact Bernstein & Maryanoff today to schedule a free initial consultation.