Mitchell Buchanan v. R.J. Reynolds, et al.,

Summary

In this Engle progeny tobacco litigation proceeding, plaintiff Nan K. Buchanan (personal representative of the estate of Mitchell Buchanan) alleged Liggett Group and Philip Morris Tobacco Co of fraudulent concealment of dangers of smoking cigarettes manufactured by the companies which led her husband Mitchell Buchanan to get addicted to smoking and also alleged the companies of being liable for manufacturing defective cigarettes which resulted in Mr. Buchanans death due to lung cancer at age 64 in July, 1995.

The plaintiff was represented by attorneys James Gustafson, David Sales and William Norton. The defense in this case comprised of Liggett Group and Philip Morris Tobacco Co. Liggett Group was represented by attorney Maria Ruiz. Philip Morris Tobacco Co was represented by attorneys Frank Kelly and Jennifer Brown.

Outcome

VERDICT: plaintiff $5.5 million plaintiff 26% responsible

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Buchanan, Mitchell
Defense: Liggett Group Inc.
Philip Morris Tobacco Co
Verdict: $5,500,000

Judge: Jackie Fulford
Jurisdiction: 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida
Court: Leon County Courthouse

Case Number: 2007-CA-3565
Industry: Tobacco
Practice Area: Tobacco

Plaintiff

Buchanan, Mitchell

Defense

Liggett Group Inc.

Represented By:
Ruiz, Maria (Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP (Miami))

Defense

Philip Morris Tobacco Co

Represented By:
Kelly, Frank (Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP)
Brown, Jennifer (Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP)

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

11 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:40	Break
00:07:11	General Case Activities
00:12:43	General Case Activities
00:47:43	Opening Statement	Gustafson, James
01:48:32	Break
02:02:19	Opening Statement	Gustafson, James
02:37:28	Opening Statement	Kelly, Frank
04:05:49	Opening Statement	Ruiz, Maria
04:13:20	General Case Activities
04:14:32	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

15 Chapters

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

23 Chapters

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

13 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

21 Chapters

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

15 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

27 Chapters

DEC

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

11 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

DEC

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

13 Chapters

DEC

AM Session

Closings

9 Chapters

PM Session

Closings

16 Chapters

DEC

AM Session

Verdict

4 Chapters

DEC

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
01:05:45	Break
01:11:21	General Case Activities	Sales, David	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:19:19	General Case Activities	Kelly, Frank	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:34:59	General Case Activities	Sales, David	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:37:31	General Case Activities
01:39:12	General Case Activities
01:49:52	General Case Activities
01:50:13	Witness Direct Examination	Sales, David	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
02:52:39	General Case Activities
02:57:59	General Case Activities
03:13:40	General Case Activities
03:14:42	Witness Direct Examination	Sales, David	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:54:36	General Case Activities
03:55:14	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:16	Witness Direct Examination	Sales, David	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:37:56	Break
01:58:53	Witness Direct Examination	Sales, David	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
04:02:29	General Case Activities
04:03:01	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:21	General Case Activities	Gustafson, James	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
00:05:31	General Case Activities	Kelly, Frank	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
00:19:47	General Case Activities	Gustafson, James	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
00:21:12	General Case Activities
00:48:56	Break
00:58:10	Witness Direct Examination
00:58:32	Witness Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
01:55:36	General Case Activities
01:57:20	General Case Activities	Gustafson, James	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
02:02:02	General Case Activities	Kelly, Frank	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
02:13:58	General Case Activities	Gustafson, James	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
02:15:06	General Case Activities
02:33:11	General Case Activities	Gustafson, James	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
02:44:03	General Case Activities	Kelly, Frank	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
02:48:55	General Case Activities
02:49:57	Break
02:53:23	General Case Activities
03:01:59	General Case Activities
03:03:28	Witness Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
03:20:35	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
03:53:35	General Case Activities
03:55:51	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:29:35	General Case Activities		Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
00:38:45	General Case Activities
00:40:40	General Case Activities
00:41:05	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
00:55:22	Break
01:09:45	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
01:34:30	Break
01:45:13	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
02:07:36	Break
02:32:49	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
04:03:03	General Case Activities
04:03:23	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:10	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
00:36:50	General Case Activities
00:43:01	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
00:54:01	General Case Activities
00:54:54	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
01:19:41	Break
01:46:03	General Case Activities
02:05:06	General Case Activities
02:06:05	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
02:27:40	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
02:31:57	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
02:31:57	General Case Activities
02:33:01	Break
02:43:07	General Case Activities
03:07:12	Break
03:11:20	Witness Direct Examination	Norton, William	Mabry, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
03:56:44	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Mabry, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
04:48:29	Break
04:59:36	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Mabry, Dr. James M.D.	In Person
05:20:32	General Case Activities
05:21:15	End of Session

Mitchell Buchanan v. R.J. Reynolds, et al.,

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:25:04	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:53:37	Break
02:05:56	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:04:50	General Case Activities
03:05:36	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:30:26	Break
00:38:12	General Case Activities
00:39:48	Witness Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
02:02:43	Break
02:21:25	Witness Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	In Person
03:56:15	Break
04:02:42	General Case Activities
04:03:39	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:16:59	Break
00:55:58	General Case Activities
00:57:17	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
02:09:22	Break
02:10:05	General Case Activities
02:12:31	Break
02:30:10	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:15:13	Witness Cross Examination	Ruiz, Maria	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:35:08	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Sales, David	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
04:40:03	General Case Activities
04:40:23	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:13:43	General Case Activities
00:15:03	General Case Activities
00:19:41	General Case Activities		Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
00:22:20	General Case Activities
00:23:29	General Case Activities
00:23:44	Break
00:31:55	General Case Activities
00:45:21	General Case Activities
00:47:09	Witness Direct Examination	Norton, William	Buchanan, Nan	In Person
02:00:44	General Case Activities
02:01:26	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:11:39	Break
00:23:23	General Case Activities
00:23:54	Witness Direct Examination	Norton, William	Buchanan, Nan	In Person
00:53:45	Break
01:13:10	Witness Direct Examination	Norton, William	Buchanan, Nan	In Person
01:23:41	Break
01:31:48	General Case Activities
01:46:50	Break
01:51:41	General Case Activities
01:52:02	General Case Activities
01:53:44	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Buchanan, Nan	In Person
02:33:21	Break
02:41:36	Witness Cross Examination	Kelly, Frank	Buchanan, Nan	In Person
03:36:48	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:45	Witness Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Tornay, Eric	In Person
00:19:51	Witness Cross Examination	Brown, Jennifer	Tornay, Eric	In Person
00:32:34	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Tornay, Eric	In Person
00:35:41	General Case Activities
00:36:54	General Case Activities
00:39:18	Break
02:25:33	General Case Activities
02:55:11	Break
03:09:27	General Case Activities
03:23:07	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:04:26	General Case Activities
		00:06:27	General Case Activities
		01:29:24	Break
		01:55:37	General Case Activities
		03:23:05	Break
		03:33:50	General Case Activities
		04:00:53	Break
		04:20:49	General Case Activities
		04:44:55	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:03:49	General Case Activities
00:03:59	General Case Activities
00:05:30	Witness Direct Examination	Brown, Jennifer	Buchanan, Mitchell	In Person
00:20:14	Witness Direct Examination	Ruiz, Maria	Buchanan, Mitchell	In Person
00:24:26	Witness Cross Examination	Norton, William	Buchanan, Mitchell	In Person
00:32:24	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Brown, Jennifer	Buchanan, Mitchell	In Person
00:34:23	General Case Activities
00:35:51	Witness Direct Examination	Kelly, Frank	Fair, Sally	In Person
00:45:51	General Case Activities
00:48:15	General Case Activities
00:48:51	General Case Activities
00:49:51	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:48	Break
00:13:31	General Case Activities
00:39:08	Closing Statement	Norton, William
02:33:59	General Case Activities
02:35:01	Break
02:46:02	General Case Activities
02:55:30	General Case Activities
02:57:05	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:08:01	General Case Activities
00:09:25	Closing Statement	Kelly, Frank
00:50:19	General Case Activities
00:58:00	Closing Statement	Kelly, Frank
02:37:03	Break
02:47:49	General Case Activities
02:48:25	Break
02:50:34	Closing Statement	Ruiz, Maria
03:15:30	Closing Statement	Gustafson, James
04:19:57	General Case Activities
04:34:25	Break
04:37:16	General Case Activities
04:38:17	General Case Activities
04:40:20	General Case Activities
04:50:12	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:00:48	Reading of the Verdict
		00:01:48	General Case Activities
		00:05:50	End of Session