Brannock & Humphries Opens 2019 With Big Win In Cigarette Appeal

In its first group of opinions issued in 2019, the Second District Court of Appeal today affirmed a multimillion-dollar final judgment in favor of a Brannock & Humphries client whose husband died from his lifelong addiction to R.J. Reynolds’ cigarettes.

The Second District heard oral argument in the case on December 20 and today rejected R.J. Reynolds’ vociferous attempts to undo the jury’s verdict, which was entered after a three-week trial.  Brannock & Humphries successfully defended against numerous issues raised by R.J. Reynolds, including challenges to certain comments made during closing argument, challenges to the jury instructions, and challenges to the amount awarded in punitive damages.

The appellate court’s unelaborated opinion upholding the verdict and judgment can be found here.