R.J. Reynolds wins complete defense verdict in Damiano personal injury lawsuit

Client(s) R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

On May 23, 2018, after a trial lasting 11 days, a jury in Sarasota, Florida returned a complete 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. He brought a personal injury suit, claiming that he is 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 he was therefore entitled to the benefit of certain generalized findings made by a jury in the course of the Engle class action trial in 1999.

The plaintiff sought compensatory damages in the amount of $5 million and unspecified punitive damages. The jury deliberated for 3 hours before returning a complete defense verdict for R.J. Reynolds on all claims.

Damiano, John Joseph v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, No. 2011-CA-000450-NC (Fla. 12th Cir. Jan. 18, 2011)