Sermons v. R.J. Reynolds

Summary

In this tobacco litigation case, plaintiff contends defendant cigarette companies concealed the dangers of their products, leading to nicotine addiction smoking-related disease.

Outcome

Verdict for the plaintiff -
Phase 1
Responsibility:
RJR - 5%
Philip Morris - 15%
Myra Sermons - 80%
Damages amount - $65,000.00

Phase 2 Verdict -
Punitive Damages:
PM $51,225.00
RJR $17,075.00

$133K Award a Sliver of the Millions Sought in Cancer Trial Against Tobacco Companies
Jul 7, 2016

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Sermons, Michael
Defense: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
Philip Morris USA, Inc.
Verdict: $133,300

Judge: James Daniel
Jurisdiction: 4th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Court: Duval County Courthouse

Case Number: 2008-CA-000397
Industry: Tobacco
Practice Area: Tobacco, Negligence, Products Liability

Plaintiff

Sermons, Michael

Represented By:
Rainer, Andrew (Brody Hardoon Perkins & Kesten LLP )
Howard, Tim (Howard Justice)

Defense

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Represented By:
Walker, John (Jones Day)

Defense

Philip Morris USA, Inc.

Represented By:
Reilly, Kenneth (Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP)

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

4 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:10:52	General Case Activities
00:28:58	Opening Statement	Rainer, Andrew
01:25:12	End of Session

PM Session

Openings

8 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

3 Chapters

JUN

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

4 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

13 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

13 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

9 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

9 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

7 Chapters

JUN

AM Session

Closings

7 Chapters

PM Session

Closings

10 Chapters

JUN

PM Session

Verdict

4 Chapters

PM Session

Openings - Damages

10 Chapters

JUL

AM Session

Defense Witness(es) - Damages

6 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es) - Damages

13 Chapters

JUL

AM Session

Closings - Damages

11 Chapters

PM Session

Other

6 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict - Damages

4 Chapters

JUL

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:30	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:02:28	Break
01:13:28	General Case Activities
01:19:15	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:28:27	Break
02:48:40	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:53:56	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:50	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:11:01	Break
01:28:11	General Case Activities
01:48:14	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:18:02	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:28:40	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
00:32:48	Break
00:35:53	Witness Cross Examination	Reilly, Kenneth	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:03:05	Break
02:21:47	Witness Cross Examination	Reilly, Kenneth	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:49:20	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Reilly, Kenneth	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
00:02:01	Witness Cross Examination	Walker, John	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:09:47	General Case Activities
01:23:24	Break
01:40:40	General Case Activities
02:01:16	General Case Activities
02:04:49	Witness Cross Examination	Walker, John	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:43:09	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:13	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
00:52:20	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Mercer, Susan	In Person
01:21:36	General Case Activities
01:31:21	Break
01:47:00	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Mercer, Susan	In Person
02:14:29	Witness Cross Examination	Diolombi, Hassia	Mercer, Susan	In Person
02:39:31	Break
02:48:49	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Simons, James	Video Recording
03:56:27	Break
04:00:33	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Heimann, Robert	Video Recording
04:20:57	End of Session

Sermons v. R.J. Reynolds

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:29	Opening Statement	Reilly, Kenneth
01:13:43	Break
01:23:19	General Case Activities
01:25:57	Opening Statement	Walker, John
01:38:46	Break
01:47:26	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:55:43	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:39:02	General Case Activities	Rainer, Andrew	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:08:56	Break
01:17:00	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:22:19	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:38:58	Witness Direct Examination	Howard, Tim	Werner, Dr. Tonia M.D.	In Person
01:39:48	General Case Activities	Reilly, Kenneth
02:33:55	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:37:20	General Case Activities
00:39:33	Witness Direct Examination	Howard, Tim	Werner, Dr. Tonia M.D.	In Person
00:55:25	Witness Cross Examination	Reilly, Kenneth	Werner, Dr. Tonia M.D.	In Person
02:12:24	Break
02:30:16	Witness Cross Examination	Reilly, Kenneth	Werner, Dr. Tonia M.D.	In Person
02:55:10	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Howard, Tim	Werner, Dr. Tonia M.D.	In Person
03:08:25	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Sermons, Michael	In Person
04:21:59	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:03:53	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Sermons, Michael	In Person
00:17:13	General Case Activities
00:21:58	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Sermons, Michael	In Person
01:30:13	Break
01:50:18	General Case Activities
01:53:21	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Sermons, Michael	In Person
01:55:58	Witness Cross Examination	Reilly, Kenneth	Sermons, Michael	In Person
02:36:56	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:20	Witness Cross Examination	Reilly, Kenneth	Sermons, Michael	In Person
01:08:48	Witness Cross Examination	Walker, John	Sermons, Michael	In Person
01:35:06	Break
01:56:23	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Sermons, Michael	In Person
02:27:58	General Case Activities
02:31:29	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Strauss, Dr. Gary	In Person
03:29:51	General Case Activities
04:13:25	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
01:03:12	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Strauss, Dr. Gary	In Person
01:14:31	Witness Cross Examination	Reilly, Kenneth	Strauss, Dr. Gary	In Person
01:25:35	Witness Cross Examination	Walker, John	Strauss, Dr. Gary	In Person
01:37:48	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Strauss, Dr. Gary	In Person
02:03:04	General Case Activities		Strauss, Dr. Gary	In Person
02:27:43	General Case Activities		Strauss, Dr. Gary	In Person
02:43:54	General Case Activities
02:45:44	Break
02:49:42	Witness Direct Examination	Diolombi, Hassia	Frazier, Dr. William M.D.	In Person
03:13:25	General Case Activities
03:47:16	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:07:08	Witness Direct Examination	Diolombi, Hassia	Frazier, Dr. William M.D.	In Person
01:12:32	Witness Cross Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Frazier, Dr. William M.D.	In Person
01:48:39	Break
02:09:26	Witness Cross Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Frazier, Dr. William M.D.	In Person
02:42:34	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Diolombi, Hassia	Frazier, Dr. William M.D.	In Person
02:55:02	Witness Direct Examination	Howard, Tim	Protrello, Andrew	In Person
03:10:33	Witness Cross Examination	Diolombi, Hassia	Protrello, Andrew	In Person
03:27:25	General Case Activities
03:32:49	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:04:35	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Johnson, Dr. Elizabeth M.D.	Video Recording
00:42:45	General Case Activities
00:46:54	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Sermons, Susan	In Person
01:43:41	Break
02:09:24	Witness Cross Examination	Diolombi, Hassia	Sermons, Susan	In Person
02:45:21	Witness Cross Examination	Walker, John	Sermons, Susan	In Person
02:47:04	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Sermons, Susan	In Person
02:58:43	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:22	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Burns, Dr. David , M.D.	Video Recording
01:11:11	General Case Activities
01:11:43	Break
01:25:22	General Case Activities
01:27:07	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Krowka, Dr. Michael M.D.	Transcript Reading
02:15:54	Witness Cross Examination	Diolombi, Hassia	Krowka, Dr. Michael M.D.	Transcript Reading
02:34:22	General Case Activities
02:34:50	Break
02:55:54	General Case Activities
03:02:17	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Butler, Hugh	Video Recording
04:01:27	General Case Activities
04:12:24	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:36:04	Break
00:45:12	Witness Direct Examination	Reilly, Kenneth	Crow, Sandra	Transcript Reading
01:31:16	Witness Cross Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Crow, Sandra	Transcript Reading
01:45:48	General Case Activities
02:04:40	Break
02:20:59	Witness Direct Examination	Reilly, Kenneth	Ticknor, Dr. Christopher	In Person
04:17:54	General Case Activities
04:23:24	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:55	Witness Cross Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Ticknor, Dr. Christopher	In Person
00:49:21	General Case Activities
00:51:09	Break
01:06:09	General Case Activities
01:23:56	Witness Cross Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Ticknor, Dr. Christopher	In Person
02:36:12	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Reilly, Kenneth	Ticknor, Dr. Christopher	In Person
02:51:08	General Case Activities
02:54:15	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:47	Break
00:11:21	General Case Activities	Diolombi, Hassia
00:19:12	General Case Activities
00:36:22	General Case Activities
00:42:04	General Case Activities
00:47:49	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:09:30	General Case Activities
00:40:06	General Case Activities
00:40:43	Break
00:49:56	Closing Statement	Rainer, Andrew
02:48:05	General Case Activities
02:59:23	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:07:16	Closing Statement	Reilly, Kenneth
01:38:15	Break
01:52:31	Closing Statement	Reilly, Kenneth
02:12:50	Closing Statement	Diolombi, Hassia
02:47:38	Closing Statement	Walker, John
03:55:35	Break
04:10:00	Closing Statement	Rainer, Andrew
05:00:57	General Case Activities
05:07:08	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:01:01	Reading of the Verdict
		00:05:18	General Case Activities
		00:07:24	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:32:58	General Case Activities
00:39:58	Opening Statement	Rainer, Andrew
00:42:13	Opening Statement	Reilly, Kenneth
00:57:29	Opening Statement	Walker, John
01:07:15	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Mills, James	In Person
01:43:11	Break
01:54:46	Witness Direct Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Mills, James	In Person
02:00:11	Witness Cross Examination	Reilly, Kenneth	Mills, James	In Person
02:08:07	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
01:03:42	General Case Activities	Rainer, Andrew
01:10:51	Witness Direct Examination	Reilly, Kenneth	Lipowicz, Dr. Peter Ph.D.	In Person
02:11:43	Break
02:21:36	Witness Cross Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Lipowicz, Dr. Peter Ph.D.	In Person
03:02:53	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:19:09	Witness Cross Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Lipowicz, Dr. Peter Ph.D.	In Person
00:35:46	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Reilly, Kenneth	Lipowicz, Dr. Peter Ph.D.	In Person
00:45:58	General Case Activities		Lipowicz, Dr. Peter Ph.D.	In Person
00:49:02	General Case Activities	Reilly, Kenneth	Lipowicz, Dr. Peter Ph.D.	In Person
00:50:27	General Case Activities	Rainer, Andrew	Lipowicz, Dr. Peter Ph.D.	In Person
00:54:25	Witness Direct Examination	Walker, John	Alderman, Steven	In Person
01:54:47	Break
02:15:15	Witness Direct Examination	Walker, John	Alderman, Steven	In Person
02:22:02	Witness Cross Examination	Rainer, Andrew	Alderman, Steven	In Person
03:07:35	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Walker, John	Alderman, Steven	In Person
03:19:01	General Case Activities
03:22:27	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:04:24	Break
00:34:13	General Case Activities
00:39:48	Closing Statement	Rainer, Andrew
01:34:16	General Case Activities
01:35:13	Closing Statement	Reilly, Kenneth
02:14:07	Break
02:31:18	Closing Statement	Walker, John
02:49:03	Closing Statement	Rainer, Andrew
03:05:53	General Case Activities
03:09:48	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:13:18	Break
		00:16:29	General Case Activities
		00:18:54	General Case Activities
		00:22:17	General Case Activities
		00:23:05	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:03:00	Reading of the Verdict
		00:05:31	General Case Activities
		00:09:51	End of Session