Tobacco company to pay $9M following smoker death verdict

Tobacco company verdict overview: 

• Who: A jury in Florida awarded more than $9 million to the family of a man whose death was ruled to have primarily been caused by smoking cigarettes made by RJR Reynolds Tobacco Co. 
• Why: The jury found R.J. Reynolds 90% responsible for the death of Dale Moyer, a longtime smoker who died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease in 2013. 
• Where: The smoker death verdict was reached in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. 

A Florida jury ordered RJR Reynolds Tobacco Co. to pay more than $9 million to the family of a man whose death was ruled to mainly have been caused by smoking the company’s cigarettes. 

The jury determined R.J. Reynolds was 90% responsible for the 2013 death of Dale Moyer and awarded $3 million to each of his three daughters and more than $373,000 in medical expenses he incurred, reports Law360. 

Moyer, a longtime smoker who died at the age of 83, was ruled in the tobacco company verdict to have been 10% responsible for his death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease. 

The monetary funds were awarded to Moyer’s daughters as compensation for loss of parental companionship and pain and suffering, reports Law360. 

Tobacco company verdict: R.J. Reynolds deliberately downplayed health effects of nicotine 

Moyer’s family reportedly argued that R.J. Reynolds and other tobacco companies purposefully downplayed the health risks associated with nicotine and manipulated their products to be more addictive to consumers. 

A jury previously awarded a reported $3.1 million in compensatory damages to Moyer’s family in 2014, while determining at the time that the deceased was 70% at fault for the diseases that led to his death. 

A new trial was granted by the trial court, however, after it was determined the defense had not been able to question a 31-member jury pool prior to excusing them for bias, reports Law360. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned six Vuse Alto-brand e-cigarettes last October after finding the products were not proven to be appropriate for public health or that they had an added benefit for adults that outweighed their known risks to youth. 

Have you been injured by a tobacco company? Let us know in the comments.

The estate is represented by Jonathan R. Gdanski, Steven Hammer and Brittany C. Barron of Schlesinger Law Offices PA.

The tobacco company verdict is In re: Irimi, et al. v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., et al., Case No. CACE08026337, in the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. 

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Uvalde shooting victims’ families file lawsuits against Meta, video game cos., others
• Snapchat parent faces wrongful death lawsuit following teen’s suicide
• Mother files wrongful death lawsuit against American Airlines
• Panera hit with third lawsuit over Charged Lemonade