The case is Gelep v. RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris USA. It was the first such case against R.J. Reynolds to proceed to trial.
"We thank the jury for taking the time to consider all of the evidence presented and for making the right decision," said J. Jeffery [image-nocss] Raborn, vice president and assistant general counsel for R.J. Reynolds. "Their verdict demonstrates that despite the flawed decision of the Florida Supreme Court to allow these cases to proceed in this fashion, we have strong defenses to them and we will continue to defend ourselves vigorously."
Winston-Salem, N.C.-based R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, an indirect subsidiary of Reynolds American Inc., is the second-largest tobacco company in the United States, manufacturing about one of every three cigarettes sold in the country. The company's brands include five of the 10 best-selling U.S. cigarette brands: Camel, Kool, Winston, Salem and Doral.
Philip Morris USA, Richmond, Va., a unit of Altria Group Inc., New York, also lauded the verdict. (Click here for previous CSP Daily News coverage.)
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