Beatrice Skolnick v. R. J. Reynolds

Summary

In this Engle progeny tobacco litigation, plaintiff Beatrice Skolnick alleged R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co and Philip Morris Tobacco Co of fraudulent concealment of the dangers of smoking cigarettes manufactured by the companies, which led her husband Leo Skolnick to get addicted to smoking and of being liable of manufacturing defective cigarettes which resulted in Mr. Skolnicks death due to lung cancer in 1993.
The plaintiff was represented by attorneys Steven Hammer and Jonathan Gdanski. The Defense comprised of R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris Tobacco Co. R.J. Reynolds was represented by attorney Mark Belasic. Philip Morris Tobacco Co was represented by attorney Dennis Murphy.

Outcome

Verdict for plaintiff

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Skolnick, Beatrice
Defense: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
Philip Morris Tobacco Co
Verdict: $2,555,000

Judge: David Crow
Jurisdiction: 15th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Court: Palm Beach County Courthouse

Case Number: 09-4045
Industry: Tobacco
Practice Area: Tobacco

Plaintiff

Skolnick, Beatrice

Defense

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Represented By:
Belasic, Mark (Jones Day (Cleveland))

Defense

Philip Morris Tobacco Co

Represented By:
Murphy, Dennis (Jones Day)

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:10:46	General Case Activities
00:12:33	Opening Statement	Hammer, Steven
01:52:30	General Case Activities
02:03:25	Opening Statement	Hammer, Steven
02:15:16	End of Session

PM Session

Openings

6 Chapters

MAY

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

MAY

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

MAY

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

MAY

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:58:33	Break
02:05:52	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:01:12	End of Session

MAY

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Belasic, Mark	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:21:17	Break
01:31:37	Witness Cross Examination	Belasic, Mark	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:19:42	Break
03:28:03	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
04:05:16	End of Session

MAY

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
01:45:15	Break
01:55:40	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
02:18:04	End of Session

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

11 Chapters

PM Session

Not in Session

0 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

12 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

8 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

2 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Closings

5 Chapters

PM Session

Closings

8 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Other

2 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict

3 Chapters

JUN

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

Beatrice Skolnick v. R. J. Reynolds

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:36:09	Opening Statement	Belasic, Mark
01:47:03	Break
01:55:49	Opening Statement	Murphy, Dennis
02:30:59	General Case Activities
02:34:57	End of Session

	Description	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
01:08:25	Break
01:25:37	General Case Activities
01:30:51	Witness Direct Examination	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	Video Recording
03:27:20	Break
03:50:02	General Case Activities
04:53:11	End of Session

	Description	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:26:00	Witness Direct Examination	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	Video Recording
01:42:57	General Case Activities
03:33:07	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:10:07	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Kleinman, Dr. Joseph MD	In Person
01:17:20	Witness Cross Examination	Murphy, Dennis	Kleinman, Dr. Joseph MD	In Person
01:49:59	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Kleinman, Dr. Joseph MD	In Person
02:02:39	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:09:23	Witness Direct Examination	Chambers, Brittany	Skolnick, Ms. Amy	In Person
00:50:27	General Case Activities
01:18:44	Witness Cross Examination	Belasic, Mark	Skolnick, Ms. Amy	In Person
01:47:05	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Chambers, Brittany	Skolnick, Ms. Amy	In Person
02:02:48	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	Video Recording
02:47:40	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:05:16	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	Video Recording
00:44:44	Break
00:53:06	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:12:02	General Case Activities
01:37:43	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:52:36	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:05:20	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
00:12:26	General Case Activities
00:31:01	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:59:37	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:36:16	Break
00:51:59	Witness Cross Examination	Belasic, Mark	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:12:28	General Case Activities
01:14:08	Break
01:27:25	Witness Cross Examination	Belasic, Mark	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:23:28	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:20:59	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
02:07:43	Break
02:14:29	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
02:15:40	Witness Cross Examination	Belasic, Mark	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
04:13:14	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:13:31	Witness Direct Examination	Lazsinger, Scott	Davis, Dr. Berry	In Person
00:54:06	Witness Cross Examination	Murphy, Dennis	Davis, Dr. Berry	In Person
01:13:46	Break
01:20:51	Witness Cross Examination	Murphy, Dennis	Davis, Dr. Berry	In Person
01:56:52	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Lazsinger, Scott	Davis, Dr. Berry	In Person
02:36:32	General Case Activities
02:53:48	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:21:38	Witness Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Skolnick, Barbara	In Person
00:39:56	General Case Activities
00:44:18	Witness Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Skolnick, Barbara	In Person
02:01:44	Break
02:09:39	Witness Cross Examination	Belasic, Mark	Skolnick, Barbara	In Person
02:35:54	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Skolnick, Barbara	In Person
03:05:43	General Case Activities
04:33:06	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:23:36	Witness Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Skolnick, Beatrice	In Person
01:53:59	Break
02:00:35	General Case Activities
02:28:15	Witness Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Skolnick, Beatrice	In Person
03:07:48	General Case Activities
03:36:59	Witness Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Skolnick, Beatrice	In Person
03:53:55	Break
04:07:55	General Case Activities
04:20:26	Witness Cross Examination	Belasic, Mark	Skolnick, Beatrice	In Person
05:28:05	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:06:19	Witness Cross Examination	Belasic, Mark	Skolnick, Beatrice	In Person
01:00:47	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Skolnick, Beatrice	In Person
01:19:41	General Case Activities		Skolnick, Beatrice	In Person
01:34:12	General Case Activities
02:05:57	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:18:24	Witness Direct Examination	Mr Geoffrey, Mr Geoffrey	McGregor, Dr. Jeanne MD	In Person
00:46:21	Break
00:52:07	Witness Direct Examination	Mr Geoffrey, Mr Geoffrey	McGregor, Dr. Jeanne MD	In Person
01:49:38	Break
01:56:48	General Case Activities
02:06:53	Witness Direct Examination	Mr Geoffrey, Mr Geoffrey	McGregor, Dr. Jeanne MD	In Person
02:34:54	Witness Cross Examination	Lazsinger, Scott	McGregor, Dr. Jeanne MD	In Person
03:17:29	Break
03:29:49	Witness Cross Examination	Lazsinger, Scott	McGregor, Dr. Jeanne MD	In Person
03:55:44	General Case Activities
04:06:57	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:17:45	Witness Cross Examination	Lazsinger, Scott	McGregor, Dr. Jeanne MD	In Person
01:23:38	Break
01:35:14	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Mr Geoffrey, Mr Geoffrey	McGregor, Dr. Jeanne MD	In Person
01:56:16	Break
02:19:38	General Case Activities
02:20:41	Witness Cross Examination	Chambers, Brittany	Skolnick, Beatrice	Video Recording
02:32:20	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:18:12	General Case Activities
01:01:36	Closing Statement	Lazsinger, Scott
02:29:21	Closing Statement	Hammer, Steven
02:53:11	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:04:55	Closing Statement	Lombardi, Robert
00:59:52	Break
01:09:55	Closing Statement	Lazsinger, Scott
01:57:37	General Case Activities
02:16:25	Break
02:21:05	General Case Activities
02:27:47	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:02:06	Reading of the Verdict
		00:09:31	End of Session