Wrongful Death Lawsuits Leads to $20 Million Award

A wrongful death lawsuit has lead a Florida jury to award $20 million to the widow of a man who died of lung cancer after smoking Kent brand cigarettes from Lorillard Tobacco Co. for 40 years.

According to Law360 (subscription required), the jury found that Lorillard was negligent and its cigarettes were defective and unreasonably dangerous, which contributed to Coleman Alexander’s death in 1995. The jury also found that the company omitted material health information on its cigarette packaging and hid data about the damage and addiction that smoking could cause. Lorillard was held 80 percent responsible for Alexander’s death and his widow was awarded punitive damages.

This wrongful death lawsuit is one of thousands that have been filed in Florida from citizens who suffered from smoking-related illnesses.

If you or a loved one has been harmed by an unsafe product, contact Sokolove Law for a free legal consultation and to find out if you have grounds to pursue legal action.

Photo courtesy of Anton Raath via Flickr.

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