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Allen [Sylvia] v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

(Personal injury US Dist Ct S FL 2001 Industry Verdict)

This individual personal injury suit was filed by Sylvia Allen, on behalf of the estate of James Robert (Bob) Allen, against R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris September 19, 2001. The plaintiff alleged that the defendants' failure to warn of the dangers of smoking prior to 1969 resulted in her husband's death. Mr. Allen died on October 1, 1999, at age 64. The plaintiff claimed strict liability, failure to warn, negligence, and conspiracy. The plaintiff sought compensatory damages for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and loss of companionship, as well as punitive damages.The case was heard in Federal District Court in the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division (11th District) before the Honorable James Lawrence King. The judge restricted damages to compensatory only, following a 1999 law eliminating the option of punitive damages. The jury returned a verdict for the defendants on February 28, 2003. No appeal has been filed. Attorneys for Plaintiffs: Grossman & Roth; Attorneys for RJR: Carlton Fields, Jones Day; Attorneys for PM: Shook Hardy & Bacon


Synonyms

   Allen v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco
   Allen v. Philip Morris