Bush v. R.J. Reynolds

Summary

In this tobacco litigation, plaintiff claims defendant cigarette maker concealed the dangers of smoking, leading to addiction and disease.

Outcome

Phase 1:
Verdict for Plaintiff
Fault: RJ Reynolds 65%
Bush 35%
Total $3,525,000.00

Phase 2: Punitive
$ 1,095,000.00

Jury Awards $4.6M to Smoker After Finding RJR Liable for His Heart, Vascular Diseases
Jul 31, 2018

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Bush, Charles/Thelma
Defense: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
Verdict: $4,620,000

Judge: W. Joel Boles
Jurisdiction: 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida
Court: M.C. Blanchard Judicial Building

Case Number: 2007CA003083
Industry: Tobacco
Practice Area: Tobacco

Plaintiff

Bush, Charles/Thelma

Represented By:
Clark, James

Defense

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:35:46	Break
00:51:43	Opening Statement	Clark, James
02:18:05	End of Session

PM Session

Openings

4 Chapters

JUL

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Clark, James	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
01:30:47	Break
01:56:02	Witness Direct Examination	Clark, James	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
02:09:47	Witness Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
03:46:06	End of Session

JUL

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

JUL

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Clark, James	Kress, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
01:02:41	Witness Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Kress, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
01:23:10	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Clark, James	Kress, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
01:40:15	Break
01:59:12	Witness Direct Examination		Smith, Dr. James O. III, MD	Transcript Reading
03:16:30	End of Session

JUL

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Clark, James	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
		01:49:37	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

JUL

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Riddles, Kevin	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
00:58:47	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Clark, James	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:20:47	Break
01:40:37	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Clark, James	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:39:10	Break
01:55:52	Witness Cross Examination	Riddles, Kevin	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:24:58	End of Session

JUL

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Clark, James	Bush, Thelma	In Person
00:31:33	Witness Cross Examination	Riddles, Kevin	Bush, Thelma	In Person
00:41:09	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Clark, James	Bush, Thelma	In Person
00:43:35	Witness Direct Examination	Clark, James	Bush, Charles	In Person
01:30:15	Break
01:53:58	Witness Direct Examination	Clark, James	Bush, Charles	In Person
02:18:35	Witness Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Bush, Charles	In Person
03:34:46	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

JUL

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Riddles, Kevin	Wagmeister, Dr. Robert , M.D.	In Person
01:10:49	Witness Cross Examination	Clark, James	Wagmeister, Dr. Robert , M.D.	In Person
01:38:37	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Riddles, Kevin	Wagmeister, Dr. Robert , M.D.	In Person
01:44:57	End of Session

JUL

AM Session

Closings

8 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

JUL

PM Session

Verdict

2 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

JUL

AM Session

Openings - Damages

11 Chapters

PM Session

Closings - Damages

6 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict - Damages

2 Chapters

JUL

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

Bush v. R.J. Reynolds

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:15:15	Witness Direct Examination	Clark, James	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
01:18:18	General Case Activities
01:22:40	Break
01:38:30	Witness Direct Examination	Clark, James	Hurt, Dr. Richard M.D.	In Person
03:21:30	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination		Figlar, Dr. James Ph.D.	Video Recording
		01:49:54	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:10:43	Break
00:16:17	Witness Direct Examination	Clark, James	Kress, Dr. John M.D.	In Person
00:33:54	End of Session

	Description	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:08:59	Witness Direct Examination	Brown, Dr. Charles M.D.	Video Recording
01:36:41	Break
01:56:19	Witness Direct Examination	Brown, Dr. Charles M.D.	Video Recording
03:41:28	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:34:05	Closing Statement	Clark, James
02:00:27	Break
02:15:04	Closing Statement	Baker, Emily
03:56:41	Break
04:07:53	Closing Statement	Clark, James
04:25:16	General Case Activities
04:48:06	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:30:27	Break
00:35:11	General Case Activities
00:41:00	Opening Statement	Clark, James
00:44:31	Opening Statement	Baker, Emily
00:55:36	Witness Direct Examination	Baker, Emily	Garner, Charles	In Person
02:06:38	Break
02:16:22	Witness Direct Examination	Baker, Emily	Garner, Charles	In Person
02:49:06	Witness Cross Examination	Clark, James	Garner, Charles	In Person
03:51:45	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Baker, Emily	Garner, Charles	In Person
03:58:06	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:07:25	Closing Statement	Clark, James
00:11:30	Closing Statement	Baker, Emily
00:29:14	Closing Statement	Clark, James
00:31:52	General Case Activities
00:34:17	End of Session