Couple Suing Tobacco Outfits

Source from:  By NATALIE NEYSA ALUND nalund@bradenton.com  01/16/2008

Manatee man, wife claim cigarettes were known to be harmful A Manatee County couple is suing several tobacco companies, claiming cigarettes they sold were defective and known to be dangerous. Joseph and Florence Doherty had been part of a certified class action lawsuit that was tried in 1999, but the couple has not been able to collect damages, according to the suit, filed at the Manatee County Courthouse. The defendants were listed as R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.; Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp.; The American Tobacco Co; Lorillard Tobacco Co.; Altria Group Inc; Vector Group Ltd. Inc.; The Liggett Group Inc.; the Council for Tobacco Research U.S.A.; and The Tobacco Institute Inc. The couple are members of the suit, Engle v. Philip Morris, which involved Florida residents and their survivors who have suffered, presently suffer or have died from diseases and medical conditions caused by their use of cigarettes that contain nicotine. Joseph Doherty smoked cigarettes manufactured by all the defendants, and he suffered from emphysema, hypertension, lost wages and medical care, according to the suit. His injuries were caused by the actions of the defendants, as determined by the Engle jury in its verdict rendered July 7, 1999, according to the suit. Less than a year ago, the Florida Supreme Court ruled the class members had the right to bring individual actions against the defendants for smoking-related injuries and damages, the suit continues. The couple claims the defendants marketed dangerous cigarettes, knew they failed to disclose that cigarettes are addictive, and did not disclose that cigarettes "endanger the health and lives" of the public. The couple is seeking an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages. Their attorneys, Willie Gary, Tricia Hoffler and Donald Watson, could not be reached for comment Monday. Enditem