Stay Informed

Sign up for news & alerts

Already signed up?
Login here
What Can I Do?


Get Help
Need alcohol or drug help for yourself or someone else? GET HELP
Continuing Education
Free online courses for addiction counselors LEARN ONLINE
Resources
Resources
Find useful publications, online documents & more.


DrugScreening.org


 

$1 Million Verdict Against Big Tobacco Upheld
September 5, 2006

Share Share Email
Email
Print
Print
SubscribeSubscribe
News Summary

The Kansas City Star reported Aug. 29 that Missouri Court of Appeals Judge Victor Howard ordered the tobacco companies to pay longtime smoker Michael S. Thompson in his negligence and product-liability case; the firms also were told to compensate Thompson's wife for loss of companionship.

Thompson, who now breathes through a hole in his throat and speaks through an electronic voice box, was awarded $1.5 million in damages by a Jackson County jury in 2003, and his wife was awarded $500,000. But the jury said Thompson was half at fault in the case, so the total award was trimmed to $1 million.

Ken McClain, the lawyer for the Thompsons, called the decision "a complete rejection of the tobacco companies' position asserted in cases not only in Missouri, but all over the country. It is a landmark ruling on matters of critical importance to those who have been lied to for decades by the tobacco companies."

The appeals court, in rejecting tobacco-industry arguments about Missouri's product-liability law, held that "a product's design is deemed defective when a preponderance of evidence shows that the design renders the product unreasonably dangerous."

The trial featured expert testimony from famed tobacco-industry whistleblower Jeffrey Wigand, who testified that the industry viewed itself as being in the business of delivering nicotine to addicted smokers, and added ammonia to cigarettes because it boosted the effects of nicotine. 

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Your Turn! Post a public comment (read guidelines):

Name:

Comment:
(limit 200
words)

Enter this word
(help):
Change

GUIDELINES: 
To keep this feature useful for all, please:

  1. Keep it clean, courteous, and on-topic. Comments are meant for thoughtful discussion of the article published above.

  2. Do not post promotional links to organizations, products or services, or personal requests for assistance (get help).

  3. Proof your comments carefully, use good spelling and punctuation, and don't use ALL CAPS. Comments are published immediately and cannot be edited.

Deceptive, slanderous and commercially-motivated posts are prohibited. We reserve the right to remove comments not conforming to these guidelines. (Report a comment).

Have questions or feedback? Contact us.