The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear an appeal in a wrongful death case where a jury ordered R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. to pay $28.3 million in damages to a woman whose husband died of lung cancer after decades of smoking cigarettes.
The Winston-Salem tobacco manufacturer’s appeal is based on an alleged violation of its right to due process since the state court precluded litigation of certain issues that had not been necessarily decided during the so called “Engle” cases from which the Reynolds’ case stemmed.
The Engle progeny of cases relate back to the 1994 class-action suit by which the Florida Supreme Court allowed cases of sick Floridians to move forward individually and upheld jury findings that smoking causes disease, that nicotine is addictive, that cigarettes are defective and dangerous, ant that tobacco companies concealed the health effects of smoking.
Charlotte Wrongful Death Attorneys
The Wrongful Death Attorneys of Reeves, Aiken, and Hightower understand the delicate and complex nature of wrongful death lawsuits. If you have lost a family member and believe you might have a wrongful death claim, our seasoned litigators can be there to assist you every step of the way. We can conduct a thorough and complete investigation and hold all parties accountable for your loss. Call us today and speak directly with one of our lawyers at 704-499-9000 or 877-374-5999 toll-free. Hire the wrongful death attorneys with whom you and your loved ones can invest the most confidence.