R.J. Reynolds wins complete defense verdict in Morales personal injury suit

Client(s) R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

On August 22, 2018, following seven days of trial, a state court jury in Miami, Florida returned a unanimous defense verdict in favor of Jones Day client R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in a personal injury lawsuit.

The plaintiff asserted claims for strict liability, negligence, fraudulent concealment, and conspiracy. She brought a personal injury suit, claiming that she was a member of the class decertified by the Florida Supreme Court in Engle v. Liggett Group, Inc., 945 So. 2d 1246 (Fla. 2006), and that she was therefore entitled to the benefit of certain generalized findings made by a jury in the course of the Engle class action trial.

The plaintiff sought multiple millions of dollars in compensatory damages and unspecified punitive damages. The jury deliberated for one hour before returning a complete defense verdict for R.J. Reynolds on all claims.

Morales v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., No. 2007-016277-CA-01 (Fla. 11th Cir.)