K&S Achieves Defense Verdict for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco in Miami-Dade County

A K&S team led by W. Ray Persons and James Cone prevailed in a hard-fought Engle progeny case for the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in Miami, Florida.  Plaintiff filed a suit against R.J. Reynolds alleging that his late mother (the Decedent) was addicted to Reynolds’ cigarettes and that her addiction to cigarettes caused her to develop lung cancer and die.  Plaintiff presented Decedent as a hard-working individual who had tried to quit smoking, and who relied on Reynolds and other tobacco company advertisements.  Nonetheless, after a three-week jury trial, on June 22, 2018, the jury returned a unanimous verdict finding that Decedent was not a member of the Engle class, resulting in a complete defense verdict.  Significant support for this victory also came from attorneys Scott Edson, Patrick Price and Mark Sentenac.