R.J. Reynolds wins complete defense verdict in Hochreiter wrongful death lawsuit

Client(s) R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

On November 16, 2018, after a trial lasting 11 days, a jury in Orlando, Florida returned a complete defense verdict in favor of Jones Day client R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in a wrongful death action.

The plaintiff claimed her deceased father was a member of the class of smokers decertified by the Florida Supreme Court in Engle v. Liggett Group, Inc., 945 So. 2d 1246 (Fla. 2006) and therefore was entitled to the benefit of certain generalized findings of fact made by a jury in the course of the Engle class action trial. She asserted claims for strict liability, negligence, fraudulent concealment, and conspiracy. The plaintiff sought compensatory damages in the total amount of $12 million and unspecified punitive damages. The jury returned a complete defense verdict for R.J. Reynolds on all claims.

Estate of James Terry Carrico v. R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Case No. 2015-CA-003926-O (Fla. 9th Cir. Ct., Orange County)