July 17, 2000 -Taking a Hit: Yes, $145 Billion Deals Tobacco a Huge Blow, But Not a Killing One

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The tobacco industry could be headed for bankruptcy court after getting hit with a record $144.9 billion punitive-damages verdict on Friday by a Florida jury and still litigating a number of individual cases. However, according to some scholars, things are not as bad as they might seem.

The Miami County Circuit Court judge will probably have to substantially cut Friday's award since Florida law does not allow punitive damages verdicts that could bankrupt a defendant.

Appeals of the class-action verdict could drag on for years, and the five defendants -- Philip Morris Cos.'s U.S. tobacco unit, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Holdings Inc.'s R.J. Reynolds Tobacco unit, British American Tobacco PLC's Brown & Williamson unit, Loews Corp.'s Lorillard unit and Vector Group Ltd.'s Liggett Group have a chance of reversal of Friday's verdict.

Also, even if a multi-billion dollar award was sustained, the cigarette companies could stretch the payments over many years since over the years they have shown astounding resilience to courtroom attacks.

In addition, the tobacco industry has a history of turning adversity to advantage. The surgeon general's famous 1964 antismoking report led not to a government crackdown but to health-warning labels, which the industry has used effectively as a shield against many smokers' claims of ignorance about health risks.

If you or a loved one is a victim of a tobacco related injury, call The Gunn Law Group now at (813) 228-7070 or CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT A CASE FORM. The initial consultation is free of charge, and if we agree to accept your case, we will work on a contingent fee basis, which means we get paid for our services only if there is a monetary award or recovery of funds. Don't delay! You may have a valid claim and be entitled to compensation for your injuries, but a lawsuit must be filed before the statute of limitations expires.

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The Gunn Law Group handles cases involving Insurance Claims, Homeowners Insurance, Property Insurance Coverage and Disputes, Insurance Bad Faith, Hurricane Insurance Claims, as well as the most serious of Personal Injury such as: Automobile Accidents, Spinal Cord Injuries, Cerebral Palsy, Traumatic Brain Injuries, Medical Malpractice, Product Liability and Wrongful Death. The Gunn Law Group serves the following Florida areas: Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Arcadia, Atlantic Beach, Bartow, Boca Raton, Bonita Springs, Boynton Beach, Bradenton, Brandon, Brooksville, Cape Coral, Casselberry, Clearwater, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Coral Gables, Coral Springs, Crestview, Crystal River, Dade City, Dania, Daytona Beach, Deerfield Beach, Deland, Delray Beach, Destin, Dunedin, Englewood, Eustis, Fernandina Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Fort Pierce, Fort Walton Beach, Gainesville, Green Cove Springs, Gulf Breeze, Hallandale, Hialeah, Hollywood, Homestead, Hudson, Inverness, Islamorada, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Jupiter, Key Biscayne, Key Largo, Key West, Kissimmee, Lake City, Lake Mary, Lake Wales, Lake Worth, Lakeland, Largo, Leesburg, Live Oak, Longwood, Lutz, Maitland, Marathon, Marco Island, Melbourne, Merritt Island, Miami, Miami Beach, Milton, Mount Dora, Naples, New Port Richey, New Smyrna Beach, Niceville, North Fort Myers, North Miami Beach, North Palm Beach, Ocala, Okeechobee, Orange Park, Orlando, Ormond Beach, Oviedo, Palatka, Palm Bay, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm City, Palm Coast, Palm Harbor, Panama City, Pensacola, Perry, Plant City, Pompano Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Port Charlotte, Port Richey, Port Saint Lucie, Punta Gorda, Quincy, Rockledge, Safety Harbor, Saint Augustine, Saint Petersburg, Sanford, Sanibel, Sarasota, Satellite Beach, Sebring, Seminole, Shalimar, Spring Hill, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, Tarpon Springs, Tavares, Tavernier, Titusville, Venice, Vero Beach, West Palm Beach, Weston, Winter Haven, Winter Park, Winter Springs Copyright 2008 © Gunn Law Group, P.A. , All Rights Reserved Terms & Conditions Site Map