Louis Summerlin, et al. v. Philip Morris USA, et al.

Summary

Jury trial in products liability lawsuit claiming that plaintiff Louis Summerlin developed cancer from exposure to both asbestos and tobacco products.

Outcome

Verdict for Plaintiff:

$13,100,000.00 Compensatory
$30,000,000.00 Punitive

Total: $43,100,000.00

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Summerlin, Louis
Defense: Philip Morris USA, Inc.
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
Hampden Automotive
Verdict: $43,100,000

Judge: Heidi Brieger
Jurisdiction: Superior Court of Massachusetts, Suffolk County
Court: Suffolk County Courthouse

Case Number: 1581CV05255
Industry: Manufacturing, Tobacco
Practice Area: Asbestos, Products Liability

Plaintiff

Summerlin, Louis

Defense

Philip Morris USA, Inc.

Represented By:
Geraghty, William "Bill" (Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP (Miami))

Defense

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

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

Defense

Hampden Automotive

Represented By:
Governo, David (Smith & Duggan LLP)

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:51	Opening Statement	Block, Jerome
00:22:56	Opening Statement	Geraghty, William "Bill"
00:44:15	Opening Statement	Belasic, Mark
01:08:24	Opening Statement	Governo, David
01:24:23	Break
01:51:27	Witness Direct Examination	Block, Jerome	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:25:34	End of Session

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

11 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

11 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

SEP

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

9 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

9 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

9 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Closings

12 Chapters

OCT

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:08	Witness Direct Examination	Shepard, Michael	Markowitz, Dr. Gerald PhD	In Person
01:54:39	Break
02:13:37	Witness Direct Examination	Shepard, Michael	Markowitz, Dr. Gerald PhD	In Person
02:36:39	Witness Cross Examination	Governo, David	Markowitz, Dr. Gerald PhD	In Person
03:08:41	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shepard, Michael	Markowitz, Dr. Gerald PhD	In Person
03:13:41	Witness Direct Examination	Shepard, Michael	Summerlin, Christopher	In Person
03:48:00	General Case Activities
03:49:29	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:28	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Oliver, Dr. L. Christine	In Person
00:35:04	Witness Cross Examination	Governo, David	Oliver, Dr. L. Christine	In Person
01:44:54	Break
02:18:28	Witness Cross Examination	Governo, David	Oliver, Dr. L. Christine	In Person
02:55:35	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shepard, Michael	Oliver, Dr. L. Christine	In Person
03:20:07	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Oliver, Dr. L. Christine	In Person
03:21:25	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Governo, David	Oliver, Dr. L. Christine	In Person
03:23:02	Witness Direct Examination	Block, Jerome	Wigand, Dr. Jeffery	In Person
03:45:02	General Case Activities
03:48:30	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:43	Witness Direct Examination	Shepard, Michael	Summerlin, Joana	In Person
01:08:34	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Summerlin, Joana	In Person
01:54:48	Break
02:17:45	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Summerlin, Joana	In Person
03:10:01	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shepard, Michael	Summerlin, Joana	In Person
03:19:51	Witness Direct Examination	Block, Jerome	Farone, Dr. William Ph.D.	Transcript Reading
03:53:19	General Case Activities
03:56:37	End of Session
03:33:54	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Farone, Dr. William Ph.D.	Transcript Reading

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:04	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Farone, Dr. William Ph.D.	Transcript Reading
00:08:07	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Block, Jerome	Farone, Dr. William Ph.D.	Transcript Reading
00:11:38	General Case Activities	McCann, Michael
00:25:45	Witness Direct Examination	Shepard, Michael	Budrow, Peter	In Person
00:55:37	Witness Direct Examination	Belasic, Mark	Garner, Charles	In Person
01:55:17	End of Session

Louis Summerlin, et al. v. Philip Morris USA, et al.

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:37	Witness Direct Examination	Shepard, Michael	Summerlin, Christopher	In Person
00:14:56	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Summerlin, Christopher	In Person
00:53:30	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shepard, Michael	Summerlin, Christopher	In Person
00:58:13	Witness Direct Examination	Block, Jerome	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
02:01:56	General Case Activities
02:05:03	Break
02:32:15	Witness Direct Examination	Block, Jerome	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:52:13	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:05	Witness Direct Examination	Block, Jerome	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:28:44	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:52:46	Break
02:29:57	General Case Activities
02:31:25	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:52:25	General Case Activities
03:56:22	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:07:25	Witness Direct Examination	Block, Jerome	Grunberg, Dr. Neil	In Person
02:00:02	Break
02:27:20	Witness Direct Examination	Block, Jerome	Grunberg, Dr. Neil	In Person
03:03:12	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Grunberg, Dr. Neil	In Person
03:55:19	General Case Activities
03:56:26	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:31	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Grunberg, Dr. Neil	In Person
01:08:04	Break
01:26:20	General Case Activities
01:49:53	Break
02:06:00	General Case Activities
02:09:02	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Grunberg, Dr. Neil	In Person
02:40:00	Witness Cross Examination	Belasic, Mark	Grunberg, Dr. Neil	In Person
03:28:56	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Block, Jerome	Grunberg, Dr. Neil	In Person
03:43:11	General Case Activities
03:46:10	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:55	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:49:14	Break
02:48:34	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:09:34	Witness Cross Examination	Belasic, Mark	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:38:02	General Case Activities
03:39:11	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:05	Witness Cross Examination	Belasic, Mark	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
00:46:40	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Block, Jerome	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:26:53	Witness Direct Examination	Shepard, Michael	Ellenbecker, Michael	In Person
01:56:24	Break
02:30:55	Witness Direct Examination	Shepard, Michael	Ellenbecker, Michael	In Person
03:11:29	Witness Cross Examination	Governo, David	Ellenbecker, Michael	In Person
03:52:05	General Case Activities
03:53:27	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:10:45	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Summerlin, Louis	Video Recording
01:21:13	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Block, Jerome	Summerlin, Louis	Video Recording
01:33:45	Break
01:56:44	Witness Cross Examination	Governo, David	Ellenbecker, Michael	In Person
02:32:48	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Shepard, Michael	Ellenbecker, Michael	In Person
02:47:19	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Governo, David	Ellenbecker, Michael	In Person
02:49:24	Witness Direct Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Jupe, Richard	In Person
03:46:04	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:09:42	Witness Direct Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Jupe, Richard	In Person
01:57:14	Break
02:08:55	Witness Direct Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Jupe, Richard	In Person
02:42:49	Witness Cross Examination	Block, Jerome	Jupe, Richard	In Person
02:52:35	General Case Activities
03:03:02	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:05:17	Witness Cross Examination	Block, Jerome	Jupe, Richard	In Person
01:50:36	Break
02:17:16	Witness Cross Examination	Block, Jerome	Jupe, Richard	In Person
03:31:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Jupe, Richard	In Person
03:52:59	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Block, Jerome	Jupe, Richard	In Person
03:57:51	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:41	Witness Direct Examination	Shepard, Michael	Oliver, Dr. L. Christine	In Person
02:02:34	Break
02:14:48	Witness Cross Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Oliver, Dr. L. Christine	In Person
03:54:37	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:48	Witness Direct Examination	Block, Jerome	Wigand, Dr. Jeffery	In Person
01:16:46	Witness Cross Examination	Belasic, Mark	Wigand, Dr. Jeffery	In Person
01:53:45	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:51	Witness Cross Examination	Belasic, Mark	Wigand, Dr. Jeffery	In Person
01:13:16	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Block, Jerome	Wigand, Dr. Jeffery	In Person
01:23:12	General Case Activities
01:24:18	Witness Direct Examination	McCann, Michael	Summerlin, Louis	Transcript Reading
01:32:14	General Case Activities	McCann, Michael
01:36:54	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:13	Witness Direct Examination	Belasic, Mark	Garner, Charles	In Person
01:07:43	Witness Cross Examination	Block, Jerome	Garner, Charles	In Person
01:35:09	General Case Activities
01:36:09	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:48	Witness Cross Examination	Block, Jerome	Garner, Charles	In Person
01:53:11	Break
02:20:01	Witness Cross Examination	Block, Jerome	Garner, Charles	In Person
02:39:37	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Belasic, Mark	Garner, Charles	In Person
03:00:27	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Block, Jerome	Garner, Charles	In Person
03:04:13	Witness Direct Examination	Governo, David	Rabinovitz, Dr. Sheldon	In Person
03:37:24	General Case Activities
03:40:56	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:26	Witness Direct Examination	Governo, David	Rabinovitz, Dr. Sheldon	In Person
00:25:44	Witness Cross Examination	Shepard, Michael	Rabinovitz, Dr. Sheldon	In Person
01:54:23	Break
02:17:06	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Governo, David	Rabinovitz, Dr. Sheldon	In Person
02:21:40	Witness Direct Examination	Governo, David	Roggli, Dr. Victor M.D.	In Person
02:56:10	Witness Cross Examination	Block, Jerome	Roggli, Dr. Victor M.D.	In Person
03:53:58	General Case Activities
03:56:01	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:09	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Roggli, Dr. Victor M.D.	In Person
00:10:11	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Governo, David	Roggli, Dr. Victor M.D.	In Person
00:32:31	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Block, Jerome	Roggli, Dr. Victor M.D.	In Person
00:42:53	General Case Activities	Governo, David	Summerlin, Louis	Transcript Reading
01:07:57	General Case Activities	Geraghty, William "Bill"	Summerlin, Louis	Transcript Reading
01:21:00	Break
01:31:43	General Case Activities
01:42:11	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:09:27	Break
00:16:54	General Case Activities
00:57:18	Break
01:07:33	General Case Activities
01:08:27	Closing Statement	Geraghty, William "Bill"
02:03:53	Closing Statement	Governo, David
02:32:57	Break
02:46:14	Closing Statement	Belasic, Mark
03:32:20	Closing Statement	Block, Jerome
04:52:52	General Case Activities
05:07:35	End of Session