Schlenther v. R.J. Reynolds

Summary

In this Engle Progeny Tobacco litigation proceeding, plaintiff Harry Schlenther (personal representative of the estate of Beverly Schlenther) alleged R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co of fraudulent concealment of dangers of smoking cigarettes manufactured by the company, which led his wife Beverly Schlenther to get addicted to smoking and also alleged the company of manufacturing defective cigarettes which resulted in Mrs. Schlenthers death due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at age 67 in February, 2010.

The plaintiff was represented by attorneys William Wichmann and Mark Millard. The defendant in this case, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co was represented by attorneys Randal Baringer, Whitney Passmore and Troy Fuhrman.

NOTE: This proceeding includes voir dire (jury selection).

Outcome

Fault:
R.J. Reynolds: 50%
Beverly Schlenther: 50%
Damages: 5,000,000
Punitive: 2,500,000

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Schenther, Beverly
Defense: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
Verdict: $7,000,000

Judge: Bruce Boyer
Jurisdiction: 6th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Court: Clearwater Courthouse

Case Number: 10-005736-CI
Industry: Tobacco
Practice Area: Tobacco

Plaintiff

Schenther, Beverly

Represented By:
Wichmann, William (Wichmann, William, J., Law Offices of)
Millard, Mark (Engstrom, Lipscomb & Lack)

Defense

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Jury Selection (Voir Dire)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:26:53	Break
00:43:14	General Case Activities
00:46:43	Voir Dire (Jury Selection)	Wichmann, William
02:03:49	General Case Activities
02:06:14	End of Session

PM Session

Jury Selection (Voir Dire)

13 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Openings

10 Chapters

PM Session

Openings

11 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

14 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

17 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

15 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

11 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

11 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

16 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

14 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

6 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

12 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Not in Session

0 Chapters

PM Session

Not in Session

0 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

20 Chapters

PM Session

Not in Session

0 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Closings

9 Chapters

PM Session

Closings

9 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Other

3 Chapters

PM Session

Other

3 Chapters

AM Session

Other

3 Chapters

AM Session

Other

3 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Other

3 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict

6 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Openings - Damages

19 Chapters

PM Session

Closings - Damages

7 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict - Damages

5 Chapters

OCT

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:31	Opening Statement	Baringer, Randal
00:45:26	Break
00:59:24	Opening Statement	Baringer, Randal
01:42:40	General Case Activities
01:42:56	Break
02:02:59	General Case Activities
02:03:18	General Case Activities
02:04:05	Witness Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Brady, Dr. Kathleen M.D., Ph.D.	Video Recording
03:31:45	General Case Activities
03:34:08	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:13:58	General Case Activities
00:23:08	General Case Activities
00:25:04	Witness Cross Examination	Baringer, Randal	Brady, Dr. Kathleen M.D., Ph.D.	In Person
01:29:49	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Brady, Dr. Kathleen M.D., Ph.D.	In Person
01:34:12	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Baringer, Randal	Brady, Dr. Kathleen M.D., Ph.D.	In Person
01:36:07	General Case Activities
01:36:58	Break
01:57:53	General Case Activities
01:58:07	Witness Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
02:56:02	General Case Activities
02:56:58	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:52	General Case Activities
00:01:41	Witness Direct Examination	Millard, Mark	Worth, Dr. Randal M.D.	In Person
01:00:36	General Case Activities
01:01:01	Break
01:23:10	Witness Cross Examination	Passmore, Whitney	Worth, Dr. Randal M.D.	In Person
01:51:47	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Millard, Mark	Worth, Dr. Randal M.D.	In Person
01:54:35	General Case Activities
01:57:13	General Case Activities		Worth, Dr. Randal M.D.	In Person
02:01:11	General Case Activities
02:01:57	General Case Activities
02:02:24	Witness Direct Examination	Millard, Mark	Whims-Squires, Dr. Lisa D.O	In Person
02:37:50	General Case Activities
02:39:03	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:29	Witness Cross Examination	Passmore, Whitney	Whims-Squires, Dr. Lisa D.O	In Person
00:25:51	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Millard, Mark	Whims-Squires, Dr. Lisa D.O	In Person
00:26:40	General Case Activities
00:28:25	General Case Activities		Whims-Squires, Dr. Lisa D.O	In Person
00:30:04	General Case Activities
00:31:06	General Case Activities
00:32:29	Break
00:41:11	General Case Activities
00:41:41	Witness Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
01:43:56	Break
02:04:42	Witness Cross Examination	Baringer, Randal	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
02:21:18	Break
02:25:05	Witness Cross Examination	Baringer, Randal	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
03:11:18	Break
03:25:56	General Case Activities
03:29:32	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:35	General Case Activities
00:01:08	Witness Direct Examination	Millard, Mark	Akers, John III	In Person
00:23:16	General Case Activities
00:23:44	General Case Activities
00:24:18	Witness Direct Examination	Millard, Mark	Bell, Susan	In Person
00:50:17	Witness Cross Examination	Fuhrman, Troy	Bell, Susan	In Person
01:10:21	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Millard, Mark	Bell, Susan	In Person
01:11:23	General Case Activities
01:11:56	Break
01:57:27	General Case Activities
01:58:22	General Case Activities
01:58:50	Witness Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	Video Recording
02:32:10	General Case Activities
02:33:13	End of Session

Schlenther v. R.J. Reynolds

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:22	Voir Dire (Jury Selection)	Baringer, Randal
01:10:41	General Case Activities
01:12:43	General Case Activities
01:15:31	Break
01:40:57	General Case Activities
02:18:24	Break
02:45:54	Voir Dire (Jury Selection)
02:49:04	Voir Dire (Jury Selection)	Wichmann, William
03:54:03	Voir Dire (Jury Selection)	Baringer, Randal
04:37:35	General Case Activities
04:40:18	General Case Activities
04:43:05	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:04	General Case Activities
00:04:18	General Case Activities
00:22:14	Opening Statement	Wichmann, William
01:25:43	General Case Activities
01:26:50	Break
01:47:52	General Case Activities
01:48:29	Opening Statement	Millard, Mark
02:20:26	General Case Activities
02:23:28	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:18:15	Break
00:23:23	General Case Activities
00:23:48	Witness Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
01:27:32	General Case Activities
01:28:09	Break
01:49:47	Witness Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
02:53:50	General Case Activities
02:54:50	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:49	General Case Activities
00:01:25	General Case Activities
00:02:14	Witness Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	Video Recording
00:20:37	Break
00:31:43	Witness Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	Video Recording
01:08:54	Break
01:30:28	Witness Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	Video Recording
02:22:52	General Case Activities
02:23:30	General Case Activities
02:25:11	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:43	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Schlenther, Beverly	Video Recording
00:32:35	Break
00:46:29	General Case Activities
00:47:31	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Schlenther, Beverly	Transcript Reading
00:50:11	General Case Activities
00:50:35	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Schlenther, Beverly	Video Recording
01:47:15	Break
02:06:38	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Schlenther, Beverly	Video Recording
02:36:55	General Case Activities
02:37:46	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:04:44	Break
00:14:23	General Case Activities
00:15:05	General Case Activities
00:16:05	Witness Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Heimann, Robert	Video Recording
00:35:52	General Case Activities
00:36:21	General Case Activities
00:37:34	Witness Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Montgomery, Nancy	Video Recording
01:04:44	Break
01:23:38	Witness Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Montgomery, Nancy	Video Recording
01:45:49	General Case Activities
01:49:10	Break
01:55:58	General Case Activities
01:56:53	Witness Direct Examination	Millard, Mark	Schlenther, Harry	In Person
02:35:51	General Case Activities
02:36:33	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:39	Witness Cross Examination	Wichmann, William	Benowitz, Dr. Neal , M.D.	Video Recording
01:12:43	Break
01:35:56	General Case Activities
01:36:47	Witness Direct Examination	Baringer, Randal	Michel, Dr. Gregg Ph.D.	In Person
02:33:33	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:21	Witness Direct Examination	Baringer, Randal	Michel, Dr. Gregg Ph.D.	In Person
01:25:57	Break
01:45:08	Witness Cross Examination	Wichmann, William	Michel, Dr. Gregg Ph.D.	In Person
02:45:47	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Baringer, Randal	Michel, Dr. Gregg Ph.D.	In Person
02:48:43	General Case Activities
02:52:03	General Case Activities		Michel, Dr. Gregg Ph.D.	In Person
02:57:29	General Case Activities
02:57:42	General Case Activities	Wichmann, William	Michel, Dr. Gregg Ph.D.	In Person
02:59:01	General Case Activities
03:00:12	General Case Activities
03:04:36	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:44	Witness Cross Examination	Baringer, Randal	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
00:43:56	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
00:59:32	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Baringer, Randal	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
01:00:29	General Case Activities
01:04:35	General Case Activities		Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
01:10:33	General Case Activities
01:11:45	Break
01:29:13	General Case Activities
01:44:17	General Case Activities
01:44:48	Witness Direct Examination	Baringer, Randal	Johnston, James "Jim"	Video Recording
01:47:42	General Case Activities
01:48:53	General Case Activities
01:52:18	Break
02:08:27	General Case Activities
02:09:07	Witness Direct Examination	Wichmann, William	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
02:14:17	Witness Cross Examination	Baringer, Randal	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
02:18:18	General Case Activities
02:19:04	General Case Activities
02:19:44	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:33:50	Break
01:18:22	General Case Activities
01:20:54	Break
01:26:16	General Case Activities
01:26:58	General Case Activities
01:58:31	Opening Statement	Wichmann, William
02:59:43	General Case Activities
03:00:16	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:16	Closing Statement	Millard, Mark
00:34:01	Closing Statement	Baringer, Randal
01:33:12	Break
01:54:26	Closing Statement	Baringer, Randal
02:51:17	Break
02:58:32	Closing Statement	Wichmann, William
03:17:35	General Case Activities
03:21:43	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:01:23	General Case Activities
		00:13:31	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:01:18	General Case Activities
		00:01:58	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:03:24	General Case Activities
		00:11:43	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:02:38	General Case Activities
		00:04:39	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:00:46	General Case Activities
		00:01:59	Reading of the Verdict
		00:05:32	General Case Activities
		00:06:10	General Case Activities
		00:08:46	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:07:36	General Case Activities
00:09:25	Closing Statement	Wichmann, William
00:19:35	Closing Statement	Baringer, Randal
00:43:06	Closing Statement	Wichmann, William
00:47:08	General Case Activities
00:52:18	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:00:23	Reading of the Verdict
		00:01:21	General Case Activities
		00:01:53	General Case Activities
		00:04:08	End of Session