Rutkowski v. R.J. Reynolds

Summary

In this Engle-progeny case, Joseph Rutkowski developed bladder cancer after smoking cigarettes for years. Rutkowski sues R.J. Reynolds, claiming that the company engaged in a conspiracy to hide the risks of smoking for years.

Rutkowski's attorneys detail evidence that they believe shows Reynolds' intent to keep smokers like Rutkowski addicted to cigarettes.

Representatives from R.J. Reynolds claim that Rutkowski ignored warnings about smoking for years. Rather than being addicted, they argue that Rutkowski chose to continue smoking, as he successfully quit when he decided he wanted to for financial reasons.

Outcome

Verdict for plaintiff.
Total damages: $10,014,699.
Including $5,014,699.00 in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.

Apportionment of fault:
R.J. Reynolds: 90%
Joseph Rutkowski: 10%

Blog Posts

Jury Awards $10M in Trial Against RJR Over Ex-Smoker's Bladder Cancer
Jan 26, 2022

Trial Opens Against RJR Over Former Smoker's Bladder Cancer
Jan 5, 2022

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff
Defense
Verdict: $10,014,699

Judge: Rex Barbas
Jurisdiction: 13th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Court: Edgecomb Courthouse

Case Number: 2007-CA-014667
Industry: Tobacco
Practice Area: Tobacco

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

SESSIONS WITH Joseph Rutkowski

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

3 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:17:37	Opening Statement	Gustafson, James
01:14:49	End of Session

PM Session

Openings

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Opening Statement	Walker, John
00:54:34	Witness Direct Examination		Figlar, Dr. James Ph.D.	Video Recording
01:57:00	Break
02:17:34	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:05:57	Break
03:23:09	End of Session

JAN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:24:26	Break
01:45:40	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:22:52	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:24:27	Break
01:52:23	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:17:28	Break
03:34:25	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
04:18:07	End of Session

JAN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:27:37	Break
01:42:06	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:52:47	Break
01:57:26	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:08:04	End of Session

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
01:32:39	Break
02:09:38	Witness Cross Examination	Riddles, Kevin	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:39:10	End of Session

JAN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:12:43	Witness Cross Examination	Riddles, Kevin	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:26:37	Break
01:49:33	Witness Cross Examination	Riddles, Kevin	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:42:58	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:49:57	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:12:54	Break
01:41:36	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
02:55:59	End of Session

JAN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:26:55	Break
01:51:16	Witness Cross Examination	Walker, John	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
02:50:09	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Walker, John	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:11:19	General Case Activities
01:24:22	Break
01:30:28	General Case Activities
01:50:37	Witness Cross Examination	Walker, John	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:30:15	End of Session

JAN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:48:18	End of Session

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:04:12	Witness Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Soloway, Dr. Mark M.D.	In Person
01:48:32	Break
02:02:51	Witness Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Soloway, Dr. Mark M.D.	In Person
02:48:17	Break
02:55:25	Witness Cross Examination	Riddles, Kevin	Soloway, Dr. Mark M.D.	In Person
03:53:41	Break
03:58:55	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Soloway, Dr. Mark M.D.	In Person
04:08:10	General Case Activities
04:09:34	End of Session

JAN

PM Session

Other

4 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		01:07:52	Break
		01:21:08	General Case Activities
		02:40:36	End of Session

JAN

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:04:43	Witness Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Rutkowski, Joseph	In Person
01:04:33	Break
01:21:14	Witness Cross Examination	Walker, John	Rutkowski, Joseph	In Person
02:57:06	Break
03:15:28	Witness Cross Examination	Walker, John	Rutkowski, Joseph	In Person
03:21:45	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Rutkowski, Joseph	In Person
03:40:03	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Walker, John	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:35:29	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
02:14:09	Break
02:31:51	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:13:35	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Walker, John	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:30:45	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Paige, Gary	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:46:11	End of Session

JAN

AM Session

Closings

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Gustafson, James	Rutkowski, Barbara	In Person
00:47:00	Witness Cross Examination	Walker, John	Rutkowski, Barbara	In Person
01:04:00	General Case Activities
01:17:44	Break
01:25:38	Witness Direct Examination		Borgerding, Dr. Michael	Video Recording
01:43:15	General Case Activities
02:21:28	End of Session

PM Session

Closings

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	Closing Statement	Paige, Gary
01:59:59	Break
02:25:47	Closing Statement	Walker, John
03:52:04	Closing Statement	Paige, Gary
04:07:04	End of Session

JAN

PM Session

Verdict

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Reading of the Verdict
		00:05:04	End of Session

AM Session

Other

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:11:56	End of Session

PM Session

Openings - Damages

7 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:03:49	Opening Statement	Paige, Gary
00:15:49	Opening Statement	Walker, John
00:23:04	General Case Activities
00:58:16	Break
01:18:04	General Case Activities
01:19:00	End of Session

JAN

PM Session

Defense Witness(es) - Damages

8 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Walker, John	Garner, Charles	In Person
01:09:29	Break
01:30:27	Witness Cross Examination	Paige, Gary	Garner, Charles	In Person
03:01:01	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Walker, John	Garner, Charles	In Person
03:29:01	General Case Activities
03:34:01	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Walker, John	Garner, Charles	In Person
03:37:16	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Paige, Gary	Garner, Charles	In Person
03:40:26	End of Session

PM Session

Closings - Damages

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	Closing Statement	Gustafson, James
00:28:22	Closing Statement	Walker, John
00:48:22	Closing Statement	Paige, Gary
00:59:37	General Case Activities
01:01:52	End of Session

PM Session

Verdict - Damages

2 Chapters

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Reading of the Verdict
		00:03:20	End of Session

JAN

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

Rutkowski v. R.J. Reynolds

Summary

Outcome

Blog Posts

SESSIONS WITH Joseph Rutkowski

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library