Florida Woman’s Lawsuit Against Tobacco Company Goes to Trial

December 4, 2008

Opening statements are scheduled to begin this week in a trial against a tobacco company by the wife of a Florida smoker who died of lung cancer.

It’s the first trial since the state Supreme Court threw out a $145 billion punitive damage award stemming from a class-action suit against cigarette makers. But the high court upheld a jury’s findings that the tobacco companies sold dangerous products and hid the dangers of smoking, and said smokers could sue individually. About 8,000 such cases were filed by the January deadline.

The trial on the lawsuit brought by Elaine Hess was set to begin Wednesday. Her husband, Stuart Hess, was a smoker who she says tried many times to quit. A flood in the Broward County Courthouse forced the postponement Monday and Tuesday.

Topics Lawsuits Florida

Was this article valuable?

Here are more articles you may enjoy.

Latest Comments

  • December 19, 2008 at 2:12 am
    sharon says:
    how would you like to watch someone die...it said it was dangerous to smoke but it didn't tell you that there is an addictive ingrediant in it saying what most of awhat all of... read more
  • December 6, 2008 at 6:38 am
    R Reggie says:
    Seh'll probally step out on the courthouse step and celebrate with a smoke!
  • December 5, 2008 at 5:50 am
    Mary B. says:
    I hope this money grubber loses.

Add a CommentSee All Comments (9)Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

More News
More News Features