$25 Million in Punitive Damages Awarded in Engle Progeny Case

csnews.com

On Tuesday, April 21, 2015, a Florida jury decided R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. must pay $25 million in punitive damages to Thomas and Bettye Ryan for injuries sustained as a result of Thomas smoking the company’s cigarettes. The verdict came just days after the jurors awarded $21.5 million in compensatory damages to the Ryans, following a finding that R.J. Reynolds was 65% liable for Thomas’ development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

In the suit, which is one of thousands included in the Engle progeny, the plaintiffs claimed that R.J. Reynolds concealed the dangers of smoking cigarettes, and, as a result, Thomas Ryan developed a nicotine addiction that led him to smoke up to four packs a day for over 40 years.

In opposition, counsel for R.J. Reynolds contended that Thomas Ryan, who had smoked cigarettes since he was 13-years-old, knew for decades that tobacco was dangerous, and thus, he was responsible for his own injuries. Further, defense counsel argued that the health warnings issued by the company in its cigarette packs and commercials, along with Thomas’ delay in attempting to quit smoking, evidenced that the plaintiffs could not have reasonably believed that there were industry-sponsored tactics to conceal the risks of smoking.

After a two-week trial, the jury awarded $16.5 million to Thomas Ryan and $5 million to his wife, Bettye, in compensatory damages. Subsequently, the six-member jury was asked to decide what amount in punitive damages they believed would be necessary to deter future dishonest conduct by the company. The jurors took less than two hours to reach the $25 million punitive damages verdict, resulting in a total award to the Ryans of $46.5 million.

The case is: Ryan v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Case No. 2008-CV-022579, 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida.

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