Penza v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Summary

Plaintiffs, the family members of a woman who died after decades of smoking, claim R.J. Reynolds, maker of the cigarettes she favored, manufactured a dangerous and addictive product, negligently marketed those cigarettes, and worked to conceal the dangers from the public, ultimately leading to her fatal lung cancer.

R.J. Reynolds contends cigarettes are an inherently dangerous product and that the woman knew the dangers of smoking but did not do enough to quit in time to avoid any health effects it caused.

Outcome

Verdict for plaintiff

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Penza, Kevin
Defense: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Judge: Edward McDonough
Jurisdiction: Hampden County Superior Court Massachusetts
Court: Hampden County Superior Court Massachusetts

Case Number: 2079CV0058
Industry: Tobacco
Practice Area: Tobacco

Plaintiff

Penza, Kevin

Represented By:
Paige, Gary (Gordon & Partners)
Castellano-Lombard, Cassandra (Gordon & Partners)

Defense

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

PM Session

Openings

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	Opening Statement	Paige, Gary
00:47:19	Opening Statement	Keehfus, Jason
01:32:55	General Case Activities
01:34:59	End of Session

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:31	Witness Cross Examination	Fiorta , Timothy	Villa, Dr. Luis M.D.	In Person
00:52:47	Break
01:18:16	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Villa, Dr. Luis M.D.	In Person
02:16:02	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Fiorta , Timothy	Villa, Dr. Luis M.D.	In Person
02:22:04	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Villa, Dr. Luis M.D.	In Person
02:22:57	Break
02:51:36	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:54:25	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:18	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:06:14	Break
01:33:36	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:00:45	Witness Cross Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:11:13	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

11 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:29	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:28:26	Break
01:49:43	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:16:34	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:40:14	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:49:18	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:54:35	Witness Direct Examination	Castellano-Lombard, Cassandra	Lannan, Celene	In Person
03:23:14	Break
03:27:04	Witness Direct Examination	Castellano-Lombard, Cassandra	Lannan, Celene	In Person
03:36:31	End of Session

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:39	Witness Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Lannan, Celene	In Person
00:08:19	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Castellano-Lombard, Cassandra	Lannan, Celene	In Person
00:40:58	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Lannan, Celene	In Person
00:51:56	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Castellano-Lombard, Cassandra	Lannan, Celene	In Person
00:59:44	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:56:50	End of Session

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:47	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:49:57	Break
02:13:28	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
02:50:24	Witness Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:56:10	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:44	Witness Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
00:51:22	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:17:42	Break
01:39:22	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
02:23:39	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
00:16:24	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
00:30:04	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
00:41:35	Witness Direct Examination		Figlar, Dr. James Ph.D.	Video Recording
01:21:00	Break
01:28:02	Witness Direct Examination		Figlar, Dr. James Ph.D.	Video Recording
01:50:30	End of Session

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Green, Kimberly	In Person
00:50:03	Break
01:03:29	Witness Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Green, Kimberly	In Person
01:27:26	General Case Activities
01:31:11	End of Session
67:45:56	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Castellano-Lombard, Cassandra	Green, Kimberly	In Person

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Penza, Kevin	In Person
00:44:42	Break
00:58:24	Witness Cross Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Penza, Kevin	In Person
01:19:24	End of Session

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Garner, Charles	In Person
		01:17:00	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Penza, Kevin	In Person
00:08:31	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Castellano-Lombard, Cassandra	Penza, Kevin	In Person
00:36:43	General Case Activities
00:38:21	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Castellano-Lombard, Cassandra	Penza, Kevin	In Person
00:44:05	General Case Activities
00:45:33	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Penza, Kevin	In Person
00:51:52	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Castellano-Lombard, Cassandra	Penza, Kevin	In Person
00:54:39	End of Session

NOV

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:40	Witness Direct Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Garner, Charles	In Person
01:46:53	General Case Activities
02:12:00	Witness Direct Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Garner, Charles	In Person
02:51:31	Witness Cross Examination	Paige, Gary	Garner, Charles	In Person
03:42:19	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Paige, Gary	Garner, Charles	In Person
00:45:26	General Case Activities
00:56:32	Witness Cross Examination	Paige, Gary	Garner, Charles	In Person
01:15:08	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Garner, Charles	In Person
01:35:08	General Case Activities
01:36:19	End of Session

NOV

AM Session

Other

2 Chapters

NOV

AM Session

Other

6 Chapters

NOV

AM Session

Closings

8 Chapters

PM Session

Closings

4 Chapters

DEC

AM Session

Other

2 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

DEC

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

DEC

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict

4 Chapters

DEC

Penza v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:03:23	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Villa, Dr. Luis M.D.	In Person
01:32:32	Break
01:54:39	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Villa, Dr. Luis M.D.	In Person
02:53:57	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:26	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Villa, Dr. Luis M.D.	In Person
00:40:16	Witness Cross Examination	Fiorta , Timothy	Villa, Dr. Luis M.D.	In Person
01:17:46	Break
01:29:38	Witness Cross Examination	Fiorta , Timothy	Villa, Dr. Luis M.D.	In Person
01:55:40	General Case Activities
01:56:53	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:15	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:50:36	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:13	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
00:34:12	Break
00:48:49	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	Other
01:58:07	Break
02:34:37	General Case Activities
02:36:39	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:13:52	Break
03:23:54	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:46:58	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:18	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:43:27	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:52	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
00:40:33	Break
00:48:47	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:40:40	Break
02:28:11	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:40:50	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:23	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:03:06	Break
01:09:53	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:52:27	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:27	Witness Cross Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:26:40	Break
01:31:56	Witness Cross Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:48:56	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:02	Witness Cross Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:37:04	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:03:24	Witness Direct Examination	Castellano-Lombard, Cassandra	Lannan, Celene	In Person
00:41:54	Break
00:59:23	Witness Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Lannan, Celene	In Person
02:36:09	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:24	Witness Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
00:25:31	Break
00:36:58	Witness Cross Examination	Baker, Emily	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:53:56	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:03:59	Witness Direct Examination		Figlar, Dr. James Ph.D.	Video Recording
01:17:06	Witness Direct Examination		Schindler, Andrew	Video Recording
01:21:33	Witness Direct Examination		Di Marco, Robert	Video Recording
01:25:49	Break
02:08:21	General Case Activities
02:12:15	Witness Direct Examination	Castellano-Lombard, Cassandra	Green, Kimberly	In Person
03:20:57	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:07:04	Witness Direct Examination		Torrell, Kerro	Transcript Reading
00:55:13	Witness Direct Examination	Castellano-Lombard, Cassandra	Penza, Kevin	In Person
01:33:43	Break
02:02:14	Witness Direct Examination	Castellano-Lombard, Cassandra	Penza, Kevin	In Person
02:42:15	Break
03:09:54	Witness Cross Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Penza, Kevin	In Person
03:24:56	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:57	Witness Cross Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Penza, Kevin	In Person
00:54:04	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:21	Witness Direct Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Garner, Charles	In Person
00:19:39	Break
00:29:21	Witness Direct Examination	Keehfus, Jason	Garner, Charles	In Person
00:31:45	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:02:59	Break
		01:06:08	General Case Activities
		02:23:36	Break
		02:33:19	General Case Activities
		02:59:22	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:03:42	Closing Statement	Keehfus, Jason
00:44:12	Closing Statement	Baker, Emily
01:08:05	Closing Statement	Keehfus, Jason
01:43:38	Break
02:04:12	Closing Statement	Keehfus, Jason
02:33:08	Closing Statement	Paige, Gary
02:55:02	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:48:40	Break
01:01:24	Closing Statement	Paige, Gary
01:30:26	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:01:05	Reading of the Verdict
		00:06:15	General Case Activities
		00:09:02	End of Session