Tobacco Documents Online

Stories on the verdict at New Orleans, announced late the aYternoon of October 11, were carried by the wires of The Associated Press and United Press International ' and were noted in New York and -nther papers . re- _ :-- `October 12, 1960 ~;~r.:.. . New Orleans -~-'A 12-member Federal court jury yesterday cleared the Liggett `' and Myers and R. J. Reynolds tobacco _ companies of and liability inn the $150,000 damage suit brought by a widow who claimed her husband's death was caused by smoking ; .r + ~ . II`=- ' - . . ~, 1.. ..i~. +.,.. The Jury, after deliberating one hour and 40 minutes, decided against r Mrs. Victoria St. Pierre Lartigue. It was composed of six men and six women seven of whom were smokers. ,:: .. ~ « - ,., .. .... U._ .._ ~.:_.. . Mrs. Lartigu.e charged that her husband, Frank J. Lartigue, died in 1955 of lung cancer caused by excessive smoking. He was 65. LUNG CANCER SUIT FAILS New Orleans Jury Refuses to Link Death to Cigarettes - NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 11 (AP)-A jury composed of seven smokers and five n6n- smokers returned a verdict in favor of two tobacco companies today in a$150,000 damage suit contending that a 65-year-old man died of lung cancer caused by cigarettes. The jury of six men and six women deliberated an hour and forty minutes before returning lts verdici to Federal District l~ Judge Herbert W. Christenberry. 1Gtrs. Victoria St. Pierre Lar O tigue of Houston; Tex., sued the Liggett & Myers Tobacco ~ Company, and the R. J. Rey- nolds Tobacco Company. H. Alva Brumfield, her attorney, said he would appeal the case. The verdict followed three weeks of testimony and argu- ment. Judge Christenberry gavo to the jury a choice of threo verdicts: in favor of the plain- tiff, against one of the tobacco companies or against both. NEW YORK HEFRALD TRIBUNE New York, New York October 12, 1960 :-y_Tobacco Firms Win In Suit for $150,000 " NEW ©R,LEANS; Oct'. 11 (AP) : A twelve-member jury, composed of smokers and non- smokers. returned "a verdict in favor of two major tobacco companies today in a $150,000 damage suit contending a sixty- Sve-year-old man died of lung cancer because of cigarettes. The jury-six men and six women-deliberated one hour and forty minutes before re- turning its verdict' to Federal Judge Herbert W. Christen- berry. Mrs. Victoria St. Pierre Lar- tigue brought the suit against the Liggett and Myers Tobacco Co. and the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., She claimed her husband died of lung cancer in 1955 and contended cigarette smoking was responsible for his affliction. Appeal Planned Attorney H. Alva Brumfield,, who represented Mrs. Lartigue,, said he would appeal as soon as Judge Christenberry signs the Judgment. The jury's Judgment ended three weeks of testimony and arguments. Judge Christen- berry gave the Jufy-seven smokers and flve non-smokers -a choice of three verdicts- one in favor of the plaintiff,. one against either one of the tobacco firms or against both of the companies. He said all twelve jurors had to agree on the verdict.