Fort Lauderdale Law Firm Wins $6 Million Tobacco Verdict for World War II Veteran’s Widow

Schleshinger Law Offices PA: Jury Finds Lifetime of Cigarette Smoking Caused Smoker’s Lung Disease

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / February 28, 2017 / A Broward County jury this week returned a $6 million damage award in the case of a World War II veteran whom they found suffered from heart and lung disease stemming from a lifetime spent smoking cigarettes.

Jurors found that Malcolm Fox, 82, was addicted to R.J. Reynolds’ cigarettes containing nicotine. His addiction caused his coronary artery disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Lawyers representing his widow, Blanche Fox, successfully argued that nicotine’s addictive effects and the resulting illnesses were hidden from users by tobacco companies.

“Mr. Fox was a member of the greatest generation, and like so many times before, the tobacco companies tried to lay blame for his suffering at the feet of the deceased. The jury didn’t buy it,” said Steven J. Hammer, who represented Mrs. Fox along with attorney Brittany Chambers, with Schlesinger Law Offices. “The jury found that cigarettes were addictive and the cause of his heart and lung disease. That’s all Mrs. Fox wanted.”

Malcolm Fox was 14, living in the Boston area, when he began smoking cigarettes in 1938. Soon, he headed overseas to fight in the Pacific Theater. He personified the American war hero, earning the Certificate of Meritorious Service and the Distinguished Flying Cross, among other medals.

Upon his return, Malcolm and Blanche, who was 17 at the time, met while bowling with friends. After a brief courtship, the two married. They soon had three sons.

After a career in the apparel business, Mr. Fox retired and the couple moved to Tamarac, Fla. Mr. Fox continued smoking R.J. Reynolds’ Camel unfiltered cigarettes until his death in 2006.

During the two-week trial, the six-woman jury in Broward Circuit Court found that Mr. Fox’s suffering was caused by cigarette smoking, though smoking did not cause his death. The award was for his pain and suffering, disability, physical impairment, disfigurement, mental anguish, inconvenience, aggravation of a disease or physical defect or loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life, as a result of his smoking-related injuries. The jury determined that R.J. Reynolds was 50 percent liable for Mr. Fox’s injuries.

Mrs. Fox’s case is one of thousands of similar “Engle progeny” cases stemming from the Florida Supreme Court overturning a $145 billion verdict against the companies. The court also ruled plaintiffs – numbering close to 700,000 – could use findings from that case to file future lawsuits against tobacco companies.

ABOUT SCHLESINGER LAW OFFICES

Based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Schlesinger Law Offices is a personal injury law firm focused on holding big corporations and major manufacturers accountable for the harm they cause and the damage suffered by the general public through acts of negligence and misconduct. The firm is currently working on cases involving Big Tobacco, Accutane medication, defective medical devices, and defective drug products. For more information, log on to www.schlesingerlawoffices.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jessica Shein or Kelsey Dean
jshein@boardroompr.com / kdean@boardroompr.com
954-370-8999

SOURCE: Schlesinger Law Offices PA

ReleaseID: 456207