January 18, 2011 – The largest individual tobacco liability lawsuit on record was settled on December 16th, 2010. Tobacco.org reports that the tobacco liability lawsuit filed against Lorillard Tobacco Co. was settled in favor of the family of Marie Evans. Evans, a longtime smoker, died of lung cancer at the age of 57. Her family was awarded $81 million in punitive damages from the lawsuit settlement. The Massachusetts jury held Lorillard Tobacco Co. liable for the death after marketing campaigns in the 1950s included distributing free cigarettes to teens. The jury found these allegations to warrant compensatory damages to the Evans family in the amount of $71 million with 12% interest.
The total damages of the full lawsuit resulted in approximately $200 million against the tobacco company. The punitive damages reflect an estimated 5 days of sales made by Lorillard Tobacco Co. and the plaintiff’s attorneys hope this outcome will send a message to tobacco marketing departments. Companies that wrongfully market their products to consumers when they are aware of the dangers can often be held liable for injury or death related to the use of that product. If you or a loved one has suffered harm from a defective or dangerous product you should contact a New York product liability attorney to discuss your case.
Contacting a New York Product Liability Attorney
At Gacovino Lake & Associates we have formed a dedicated network of personal injury lawyers to serve clients nationwide for their injury claims. Our New York office serves residents of the 5 boroughs with their auto accident, medical malpractice, defective product, premises liability, and Workers’ Compensation claims. For experienced help when filing your personal injury claim, contact us today – 1-800-246-4878.
