Kirkland v. R.J. Reynolds

Summary

In this Engle progeny tobacco litigation proceeding, plaintiff Leroy Kirkland alleged R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company of fraudulent concealment of dangers of smoking cigarettes manufactured by the company which led the plaintiff to get addicted to smoking at age 11. The plaintiff also alleged the company of manufacturing defective cigarettes due to which, his larynx and part of his tongue were removed as a result of laryngeal cancer.

The plaintiff was represented by attorney Manuel Socias. The defendant in this case, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company was represented by attorney Stephen Kaczynski.

The jury found in favor of the plaintiff on all issues, including R.J. Reynolds' liability for punitive damages. However, the jury awarded compensatory damages of only $100K, and allocated 90% of fault to the plaintiff. The punitive damage award was $250K.

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Outcome

Fault: 10%- RJ Reynolds, 90%- Plaintiff
Non-Economic Damages: 60,000-Past, 40,000-Future
Punitive Damages: 250,000

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Kirkland, Leroy
Defense: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
Verdict: $350,000

Judge: William Levens
Jurisdiction: 13th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Court: Edgecomb Courthouse

Case Number: 08-CA-673
Industry: Tobacco
Practice Area: Tobacco, Toxic Torts, Products Liability, Negligence, Tort Law

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

PM Session

Openings

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:02	General Case Activities
00:00:34	Opening Statement	Socias, Manuel
01:23:23	Break
01:27:31	Opening Statement	Gary, Willie
02:07:25	Break
02:11:15	Opening Statement	Kaczynski, Stephen
02:56:58	End of Session

JAN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:01	Witness Direct Examination	Hoffler, Tricia "C.K."	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
01:19:42	Break
01:39:02	Witness Direct Examination	Hoffler, Tricia "C.K."	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
02:06:36	Witness Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
03:18:16	End of Session

JAN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

13 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Gary, Willie	McCormack, Donald	In Person
00:19:27	Witness Cross Examination	Williams, Jack	McCormack, Donald	In Person
00:35:53	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gary, Willie	McCormack, Donald	In Person
00:40:21	Witness Direct Examination	Gary, Willie	Kirkland, Clayton	In Person
00:41:52	Witness Cross Examination	Williams, Jack	Kirkland, Clayton	In Person
00:50:42	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gary, Willie	Kirkland, Clayton	In Person
00:53:31	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Williams, Jack	Kirkland, Clayton	In Person
00:54:35	General Case Activities
00:57:31	Break
01:25:31	Witness Direct Examination	Socias, Manuel	Benowitz, Dr. Neal , M.D.	Video Recording
02:52:09	Break
03:05:36	Witness Direct Examination	Socias, Manuel	Benowitz, Dr. Neal , M.D.	Video Recording
03:29:06	End of Session

JAN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Sperando, Maria	Dolgin, Dr. Sanford , M.D.	In Person
01:27:32	Break
01:50:54	Witness Direct Examination	Sperando, Maria	Dolgin, Dr. Sanford , M.D.	In Person
03:05:34	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Sperando, Maria	Dolgin, Dr. Sanford , M.D.	In Person
00:32:12	Break
00:37:52	Witness Cross Examination	Williams, Jack	Dolgin, Dr. Sanford , M.D.	In Person
00:37:52	Break
02:09:13	Witness Cross Examination	Williams, Jack	Dolgin, Dr. Sanford , M.D.	In Person
02:28:03	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Sperando, Maria	Dolgin, Dr. Sanford , M.D.	In Person
02:59:12	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Williams, Jack	Dolgin, Dr. Sanford , M.D.	In Person
03:03:32	General Case Activities		Dolgin, Dr. Sanford , M.D.	In Person
03:05:44	End of Session

JAN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Kaczynski, Stephen	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:47:42	Break
02:04:30	Witness Cross Examination	Kaczynski, Stephen	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:34:39	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Socias, Manuel	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:05:23	General Case Activities
03:06:10	End of Session

FEB

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Gary, Willie	Kirkland, Leroy	In Person
00:26:32	Witness Cross Examination	Williams, Jack	Kirkland, Leroy	In Person
01:24:42	Break
01:49:29	Witness Cross Examination	Williams, Jack	Kirkland, Leroy	In Person
02:11:56	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gary, Willie	Kirkland, Leroy	In Person
02:40:19	General Case Activities		Kirkland, Leroy	In Person
02:43:21	General Case Activities	Gary, Willie	Kirkland, Leroy	In Person
02:43:46	General Case Activities	Williams, Jack	Kirkland, Leroy	In Person
02:44:30	General Case Activities	Gary, Willie	Kirkland, Leroy	In Person
02:45:14	End of Session

FEB

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Acosta, Howard	Farone, Dr. William Ph.D.	Video Recording
00:59:58	Witness Cross Examination		Farone, Dr. William Ph.D.	Video Recording
01:31:21	Break
01:47:12	Witness Cross Examination		Farone, Dr. William Ph.D.	Video Recording
01:59:35	Witness Cross Examination	Murphy, Dennis	Farone, Dr. William Ph.D.	Video Recording
02:40:44	Witness Cross Examination		Farone, Dr. William Ph.D.	Video Recording
02:47:52	Witness Cross Examination		Farone, Dr. William Ph.D.	Video Recording
02:48:21	Break
03:00:14	Witness Direct Examination		Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	Video Recording
03:26:11	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

16 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination		Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	Video Recording
00:13:51	Witness Cross Examination		Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	Video Recording
00:29:42	General Case Activities	Acosta, Howard
00:33:16	Witness Direct Examination	Baker, Emily	Myers, Dr. Wade , M.D.	In Person
00:40:56	Break
00:55:53	Witness Direct Examination	Baker, Emily	Myers, Dr. Wade , M.D.	In Person
01:08:50	Voir Dire (Jury Selection)	Gary, Willie	Myers, Dr. Wade , M.D.	In Person
01:16:42	Witness Direct Examination	Baker, Emily	Myers, Dr. Wade , M.D.	In Person
02:05:30	Break
02:17:44	Witness Cross Examination	Gary, Willie	Myers, Dr. Wade , M.D.	In Person
03:45:12	Break
03:50:30	Witness Cross Examination	Gary, Willie	Myers, Dr. Wade , M.D.	In Person
03:52:27	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Baker, Emily	Myers, Dr. Wade , M.D.	In Person
04:01:23	General Case Activities		Myers, Dr. Wade , M.D.	In Person
04:07:57	General Case Activities	Gary, Willie	Myers, Dr. Wade , M.D.	In Person
04:08:45	End of Session

FEB

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Williams, Jack	Bertino , Dr. Michael , M.D.	In Person
01:52:22	Break
02:13:54	Witness Direct Examination	Williams, Jack	Bertino , Dr. Michael , M.D.	In Person
03:02:41	Witness Cross Examination	Sperando, Maria	Bertino , Dr. Michael , M.D.	In Person
03:39:47	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Sperando, Maria	Bertino , Dr. Michael , M.D.	In Person
00:27:45	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Williams, Jack	Bertino , Dr. Michael , M.D.	In Person
01:07:04	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Sperando, Maria	Bertino , Dr. Michael , M.D.	In Person
01:18:03	General Case Activities		Bertino , Dr. Michael , M.D.	In Person
01:26:35	General Case Activities	Sperando, Maria	Bertino , Dr. Michael , M.D.	In Person
01:27:48	Break
01:43:57	Witness Direct Examination	Baker, Emily	Hoffman, Dr. Elizabeth , Ph.D.	In Person
03:23:39	End of Session

FEB

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

7 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

11 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Socias, Manuel	Hoffman, Dr. Elizabeth , Ph.D.	In Person
01:55:56	Break
02:16:02	Witness Cross Examination	Socias, Manuel	Hoffman, Dr. Elizabeth , Ph.D.	In Person
02:20:26	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Baker, Emily	Hoffman, Dr. Elizabeth , Ph.D.	In Person
02:49:56	Witness Direct Examination	Sperando, Maria	Dolgin, Dr. Sanford , M.D.	In Person
03:25:53	Witness Cross Examination	Williams, Jack	Dolgin, Dr. Sanford , M.D.	In Person
03:46:29	Break
03:55:47	General Case Activities
03:56:57	Witness Cross Examination	Williams, Jack	Dolgin, Dr. Sanford , M.D.	In Person
04:09:44	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Sperando, Maria	Dolgin, Dr. Sanford , M.D.	In Person
04:14:57	End of Session

FEB

PM Session

Closings

5 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Closings

5 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict

4 Chapters

FEB

PM Session

Openings - Damages

5 Chapters

AM Session

Openings - Damages

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:05:29	Witness Direct Examination	Socias, Manuel	Adams, Thomas	In Person
00:55:54	Witness Cross Examination	Kaczynski, Stephen	Adams, Thomas	In Person
02:13:58	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Socias, Manuel	Adams, Thomas	In Person
02:23:00	General Case Activities		Adams, Thomas	In Person
02:24:16	End of Session

PM Session

Closings - Damages

4 Chapters

FEB

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

Kirkland v. R.J. Reynolds

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:49	Witness Direct Examination	Hoffler, Tricia "C.K."	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
01:41:21	Break
02:01:09	Witness Direct Examination	Hoffler, Tricia "C.K."	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
03:03:53	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:15:52	Witness Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
01:34:54	Break
01:50:13	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hoffler, Tricia "C.K."	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
02:49:57	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:03	Witness Direct Examination	Socias, Manuel	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:36:41	Break
02:00:44	Witness Direct Examination	Socias, Manuel	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:44:52	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:13	Witness Cross Examination	Sperando, Maria	Bertino , Dr. Michael , M.D.	In Person
01:40:11	Break
02:00:52	Witness Cross Examination	Sperando, Maria	Bertino , Dr. Michael , M.D.	In Person
03:04:57	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:22:26	Closing Statement	Socias, Manuel
01:11:49	Break
01:23:10	Closing Statement	Gary, Willie
02:38:28	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:00:49	Reading of the Verdict
		00:02:41	General Case Activities
		00:03:42	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:00:44	Reading of the Verdict
		00:01:36	General Case Activities
		00:04:27	End of Session