Morgan & Morgan Wins $1.65M Verdict, Scores Major Victory Against Big Tobacco

FORT MYERS, Fla., July 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Morgan & Morgan, the nation's largest plaintiffs' firm, is thrilled to announce that its attorneys Craig Stevens and John Dill scored a major $1,650,000 verdict in a landmark victory against tobacco company R.J. Reynolds this week, ending an eight year long battle for justice. 

Stevens and Dill represented client John Maloney in his fight for justice on behalf of his late wife, Carolyn. Mr. Maloney lost his wife 14 years ago to lung cancer as a result of her lifelong addiction to R.J. Reynolds' tobacco products, and has fought ever since to hold the tobacco giant liable for her death.

This case has special significance, because it is part of the "Engle Progeny" litigation. After the Florida Supreme Court decertified a class action lawsuit filed by pediatrician Howard Engle for injuries suffered due to smoking, thousands of former class members were able to file individual lawsuits against cigarette manufacturers for their injuries and losses.

Mrs. Maloney was one of those former class members and this suit was the first of the "Engle" cases to be won in the jurisdiction.

The jury found that R.J. Reynolds, committed negligence, sold a defective and inherently dangerous product along with fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud and was part of a 50 year conspiracy that put consumers' health at grave risk. Jurors also found that the company's actions ultimately were the cause of Carolyn Maloney's addiction and death, and awarded the client a $1.65 million jury verdict as a result.

Additionally, because Stevens and Dill beat the expired Proposal for Settlement, R.J. Reynolds will have to pay attorney fees and costs — which could add up to over $1M  — on behalf of Morgan & Morgan's client.

This verdict is a satisfying conclusion to the long fight for justice against the tobacco giant. Despite the set-back of a mistrial in 2016, Morgan & Morgan's attorneys kept up the fight and retried the case this year, because they knew Mr. Maloney deserved better — something no other firm would be willing to do for their client. 

In the end, Stevens' and Dill's devotion to their client was well rewarded. Although victories against Big Tobacco are exceedingly difficult, and few firms score verdicts when faced against these deep-pocketed tobacco companies and their vast legal teams, Morgan & Morgan won against the odds and obtained a just verdict for Mr. Maloney.

"I spent 8 years fighting this case for Mr. Maloney," said Stevens. "We went through two jury trials to finally get justice."

"We are very pleased that the jury did the right thing," said Dill. "It was a long battle, but worth every second. Our client had the love of his life taken from him because of corporate greed. Justice is sweet."

The case is John Maloney, as PR of the Estate of Carolyn Maloney vs. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., case number 07-CA-015578, in the Circuit Court of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit of the State of Florida.

ABOUT MORGAN & MORGAN

Morgan & Morgan, a national plaintiff's law firm fighting for the people, not the powerful, has recovered more than $4 billion for more than 200,000 clients. The firm has more than 350 attorneys in about 40 offices in 11 states. With the support of nearly 2,000 employees, the firm's attorneys represent clients in a wide range of practice areas — from personal injury, workers' compensation, and medical malpractice cases to labor and employment, mesothelioma, and product liability lawsuits to national mass torts and class actions.                                                       

For more information, contact:

Karine Lim / Erika Nedwell
Morgan & Morgan, P.A
[email protected] / [email protected]
212-738-6265 / 212-738-6254

SOURCE Morgan & Morgan

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