Joan Spolzino v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Summary

In this Engle Progeny Tobacco Litigation proceeding, plaintiff Joan Spolzino (personal representative of the estate of James Edward Schoeff) alleged R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company of fraudulent concealment of the dangers of smoking cigarettes manufactured by the company, which led her husband James Edward Schoeff to get addicted to smoking and also alleged the company of being liable for manufacturing defective cigarettes which resulted in Mr. Schoeffs death due to lung cancer in 2001.

The plaintiff was represented by attorneys Gary Paige, Alex Alvarez and Howard Acosta. The defendant in this case, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company was represented by attorneys Kevin Boyce and David Alden.

Outcome

Damages: 10,500,000.00
Punitive: 30,000,000.00

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Spolzino, Joan
Defense: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
Verdict: $40,500,000

Judge: Jack Tuter
Jurisdiction: 17th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Court: Judicial Complex

Case Number: 08-22608
Industry: Tobacco
Practice Area: Tobacco

Plaintiff

Spolzino, Joan

Represented By:
Paige, Gary (Paige, Trop & Ameen, P.A.)
Alvarez, Alex (Alvarez Law Firm)
Acosta, Howard (Acosta, Howard M, Law Offices of)

Defense

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:30:05	Opening Statement	Alvarez, Alex
01:27:32	Break
01:43:56	General Case Activities
02:02:11	Opening Statement	Boyce, Kevin
02:32:03	End of Session
03:24:28	Opening Statement	Alvarez, Alex

PM Session

Openings

7 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Not in Session

0 Chapters

PM Session

Not in Session

0 Chapters

FEB

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Alvarez, Alex	Cheff, David	In Person
00:20:42	Witness Cross Examination	Boyce, Kevin	Cheff, David	In Person
00:40:45	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Alvarez, Alex	Cheff, David	In Person
00:43:04	General Case Activities
00:47:08	Break
00:52:15	Witness Direct Examination	Alvarez, Alex	Cook, Dr. Christopher	Video Recording
01:47:54	Break
02:01:10	Witness Direct Examination	Alvarez, Alex	Cook, Dr. Christopher	Video Recording
02:58:59	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Boyce, Kevin	Bernstein, Dr. Lawson M.D., P.C.	In Person
01:16:12	Break
01:33:43	Witness Direct Examination	Boyce, Kevin	Bernstein, Dr. Lawson M.D., P.C.	In Person
01:41:58	Witness Cross Examination	Paige, Gary	Bernstein, Dr. Lawson M.D., P.C.	In Person
02:49:46	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Paige, Gary	Bernstein, Dr. Lawson M.D., P.C.	In Person
01:01:29	Break
01:08:54	Witness Cross Examination	Paige, Gary	Bernstein, Dr. Lawson M.D., P.C.	In Person
01:26:31	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Boyce, Kevin	Bernstein, Dr. Lawson M.D., P.C.	In Person
01:40:55	General Case Activities		Bernstein, Dr. Lawson M.D., P.C.	In Person
01:49:46	General Case Activities
01:53:19	End of Session

FEB

AM Session

Closings

12 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict

6 Chapters

FEB

AM Session

Defense Witness(es) - Damages

11 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict - Damages

4 Chapters

FEB

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

Joan Spolzino v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:35	Opening Statement	Boyce, Kevin
00:42:44	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:21:28	Break
01:42:05	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:43:01	General Case Activities
03:20:02	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:01	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
00:56:51	Break
01:10:44	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:06:02	Break
02:13:08	General Case Activities
02:13:27	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:50:23	Break
02:50:23	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:26	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:14:02	Break
01:34:35	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:46:50	Break
01:57:33	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:08:43	Break
02:30:43	General Case Activities
02:31:37	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:36:29	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:12	Witness Cross Examination	Boyce, Kevin	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	Video Recording
00:51:08	Witness Direct Examination	Alvarez, Alex	Villa, Dr. Luis M.D.	In Person
01:06:41	Break
02:25:12	Witness Cross Examination	Alden, David	Villa, Dr. Luis M.D.	In Person
02:53:57	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Alvarez, Alex	Villa, Dr. Luis M.D.	In Person
03:05:10	General Case Activities
03:09:06	General Case Activities		Villa, Dr. Luis M.D.	In Person
03:12:04	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:03:22	General Case Activities
00:04:35	Witness Direct Examination	Acosta, Howard	Cook, Dr. Christopher	Video Recording
01:22:17	Break
01:39:10	Witness Direct Examination	Acosta, Howard	Cook, Dr. Christopher	Video Recording
02:48:26	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:35:24	Closing Statement	Paige, Gary
01:23:11	Break
01:35:53	Closing Statement	Paige, Gary
02:03:37	Closing Statement	Alvarez, Alex
02:23:49	Break
02:31:21	Closing Statement	Boyce, Kevin
03:43:01	Break
03:48:04	Closing Statement	Boyce, Kevin
04:11:56	Closing Statement	Alvarez, Alex
04:25:32	General Case Activities
04:35:36	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:01:37	Reading of the Verdict
		00:03:49	General Case Activities
		00:05:25	Break
		00:08:44	General Case Activities
		00:09:49	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:10	Witness Direct Examination	Boyce, Kevin	Borgerding, Dr. Michael	In Person
01:06:07	Witness Cross Examination	Paige, Gary	Borgerding, Dr. Michael	In Person
01:29:21	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Boyce, Kevin	Borgerding, Dr. Michael	In Person
01:32:22	Break
01:44:13	General Case Activities		Borgerding, Dr. Michael	In Person
01:57:41	General Case Activities
02:05:20	Closing Statement	Alvarez, Alex
02:21:04	Closing Statement	Boyce, Kevin
02:37:11	General Case Activities
02:38:10	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:00:36	Reading of the Verdict
		00:00:52	General Case Activities
		00:02:09	End of Session