Ruffo v. RJR

Summary

In this Engle progeny tobacco litigation proceeding, plaintiff Dorothy Ruffo alleged Philip Morris Tobacco Co and Lorillard Tobacco Co of fraudulent concealment of dangers of smoking cigarettes manufactured by the companies which led her to get addicted to smoking and also of liability of manufacturing defective cigarettes which caused the plaintiff Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The plaintiff was represented by attorneys Allan Kaiser and Jeffrey Sloman. The defense in this comprised of Philip Morris Tobacco Co and Lorillard Tobacco Co. Philip Morris Tobacco Co was represented by attorney Joseph Fasi, Lorillard Tobacco Co was represented by attorney Mark Bideau.

Outcome

Verdict for plaintiiff - $1.5 million

% of fault:
Philip Morris - 12%
Lorillard - 3%
Dorothy Ruffo - 85%

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Ruffo, Dorothy
Defense: Philip Morris Tobacco Co
Lorillard Tobacco Co
Verdict: $1,500,000

Judge: Sarah Zabel
Jurisdiction: 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Court: Dade County Courthouse

Industry: Tobacco
Practice Area: Tobacco

Plaintiff

Ruffo, Dorothy

Represented By:
Kaiser, Allan (Ferraro Law Firm (Miami))
Sloman, Jeffrey (Ferraro Law Firm (Miami))

Defense

Philip Morris Tobacco Co

Represented By:
Fasi, Joseph (Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan)

Defense

Lorillard Tobacco Co

Represented By:
Bideau, Mark (Greenberg Traurig, LLP)

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Judge Motion Ruling

6 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:06:30	Break
		01:14:40	General Case Activities
		01:28:10	Break
		02:00:00	General Case Activities
		03:48:47	End of Session

PM Session

Judge Motion Ruling

2 Chapters

APR

PM Session

Openings

7 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Kaiser, Allan	Reed, Dr. Barry MD	In Person
01:16:30	Witness Cross Examination	Fasi, Joseph	Reed, Dr. Barry MD	In Person
02:05:00	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Fasi, Joseph	Reed, Dr. Barry MD	In Person
01:05:28	Witness Cross Examination	Bideau, Mark	Reed, Dr. Barry MD	In Person
01:06:39	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Kaiser, Allan	Reed, Dr. Barry MD	In Person
01:25:28	General Case Activities		Reed, Dr. Barry MD	In Person
01:35:28	Witness Direct Examination	Kaiser, Allan	Goldman, Dr. Allan MD	In Person
02:01:28	Witness Cross Examination	Fasi, Joseph	Goldman, Dr. Allan MD	In Person
02:58:28	Break
03:09:28	Witness Cross Examination	Fasi, Joseph	Goldman, Dr. Allan MD	In Person
03:39:43	Witness Cross Examination	Bideau, Mark	Goldman, Dr. Allan MD	In Person
03:52:25	End of Session

MAY

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

MAY

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Sloman, Jeffrey	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
00:21:59	Witness Cross Examination	Fasi, Joseph	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
00:57:50	Break
01:08:13	General Case Activities
01:31:34	Witness Cross Examination	Fasi, Joseph	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:29:44	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

MAY

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

11 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Kaiser, Allan	Ruffo, Mr. Marshall	In Person
00:23:45	Witness Cross Examination	Schultz, Lori	Ruffo, Mr. Marshall	In Person
00:33:30	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Kaiser, Allan	Ruffo, Mr. Marshall	In Person
00:41:15	Witness Direct Examination	Kaiser, Allan	Long, Ms. Christy	Video Recording
01:21:20	End of Session

MAY

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

11 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

MAY

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

AM Session

Closings

17 Chapters

MAY

AM Session

Other

2 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict

2 Chapters

AM Session

Other

2 Chapters

MAY

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

Ruffo v. RJR

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:29:45	General Case Activities
00:39:55	Opening Statement	Kaiser, Allan
02:01:02	Break
02:17:15	Opening Statement	Fasi, Joseph
03:10:15	Opening Statement	Bedard, Benjamin
03:29:27	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
01:08:30	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Kaiser, Allan	Goldman, Dr. Allan MD	In Person
01:33:30	Break
02:29:30	General Case Activities
03:03:00	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:14	General Case Activities
00:09:17	Witness Direct Examination	Kaiser, Allan	Ruffo, Mrs. Dorothy	In Person
01:00:49	Witness Cross Examination	Schultz, Lori	Ruffo, Mrs. Dorothy	In Person
01:59:04	General Case Activities
02:11:54	Break
02:13:31	Witness Cross Examination	Schultz, Lori	Ruffo, Mrs. Dorothy	In Person
02:14:14	Witness Cross Examination	Bideau, Mark	Ruffo, Mrs. Dorothy	In Person
02:15:39	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Kaiser, Allan	Ruffo, Mrs. Dorothy	In Person
02:35:01	General Case Activities		Ruffo, Mrs. Dorothy	In Person
02:43:05	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:08:40	Break
00:50:50	General Case Activities
00:54:55	Witness Direct Examination	Schultz, Lori	Cooper, Ms. Conny	Transcript Reading
01:14:45	Break
01:29:55	General Case Activities
01:40:45	Break
02:36:28	General Case Activities
04:14:55	Break
05:28:00	General Case Activities
06:05:04	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:53:18	Witness Direct Examination	Kaiser, Allan	Bernstein, Dr.	Transcript Reading
01:04:25	Break
01:06:19	General Case Activities
01:38:45	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:18:19	Break
00:34:22	General Case Activities
00:42:20	Break
00:48:37	General Case Activities
01:07:17	General Case Activities
01:11:17	Closing Statement	Kaiser, Allan
02:09:24	Break
02:22:15	Closing Statement	Fasi, Joseph
03:42:07	Closing Statement	Bideau, Mark
04:12:37	Break
04:21:34	General Case Activities
04:27:12	Closing Statement	Kaiser, Allan
05:06:17	Break
05:07:42	General Case Activities
05:10:47	General Case Activities
05:40:17	End of Session