Syzmanski v. R.J. Reynolds

Summary

In this Engle progeny tobacco litigation proceeding, plaintiff John Syzmanski alleged Philip Morris Tobacco Co and Liggett Group of fraudulent concealment of dangers of smoking cigarettes manufactured by the companies which led the plaintiff to get addicted to smoking at an early age and also all alleged the companies of being liable of manufacturing defective cigarettes which caused the plaintiff laryngeal cancer.

The plaintiff was represented by attorneys Keith Mitnik, Gregory Prysock and Craig Stevens. The defense in this case comprised of Philip Morris Tobacco Co and Liggett Group. Philip Morris Tobacco Co was represented by attorney Walter Cofer, Jennifer Brown and Todd Wallen. Liggett Group was represented by attorney Nancy Kaschel.

Outcome

Jury found for the defense

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Syzmanski, John
Defense: Philip Morris Tobacco Co
Liggett Group Inc.

Judge: Sherra Winesett
Jurisdiction: 20th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Court: Lee County Justice Center

Case Number: 07-CA-015501
Industry: Tobacco
Practice Area: Tobacco

Plaintiff

Syzmanski, John

Defense

Philip Morris Tobacco Co

Represented By:
Cofer, Walter (Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP)
Brown, Jennifer (Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP)
Wallen, Todd (Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP)

Defense

Liggett Group Inc.

Represented By:
Kaschel, Nancy (Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP)

Expert Witnesses

Lay Witnesses

Sessions

Attorney

Witness

Type

Description

AM Session

Openings

14 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:07:36	Break
00:11:25	General Case Activities
00:12:05	Opening Statement	Mitnik, Keith
01:47:05	General Case Activities
01:47:50	Break
02:10:30	Opening Statement	Cofer, Walter
03:12:09	Opening Statement	Burton, R. Dal
03:21:44	Opening Statement	Kaschel, Nancy
03:30:40	General Case Activities
03:31:54	General Case Activities
03:32:30	Break
03:41:29	General Case Activities
04:26:09	End of Session

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

14 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

OCT

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

19 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

13 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

13 Chapters

OCT

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

12 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

8 Chapters

OCT

PM Session

Verdict

4 Chapters

AM Session

Closings

12 Chapters

OCT

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:00:39	Witness Direct Examination	Prysock, Gregory	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
00:59:31	Break
01:17:17	Witness Direct Examination	Prysock, Gregory	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
01:38:32	Break
01:46:08	Witness Direct Examination	Prysock, Gregory	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
02:58:08	Break
03:15:41	Witness Direct Examination	Prysock, Gregory	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
03:52:33	General Case Activities
03:55:38	General Case Activities
03:57:09	General Case Activities
04:20:56	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:06:47	Break
00:32:02	General Case Activities
00:32:43	Witness Cross Examination	Cofer, Walter	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
01:34:48	Break
01:54:38	Witness Cross Examination	Cofer, Walter	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
02:30:53	Break
02:45:10	General Case Activities
02:46:09	General Case Activities
02:47:29	Witness Cross Examination	Burton, R. Dal	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
03:06:12	Witness Cross Examination	Kaschel, Nancy	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
03:10:19	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Prysock, Gregory	Henningfield, Dr. Jack , Ph.D.	In Person
03:52:48	General Case Activities
03:54:20	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Stevens, Craig	Scher, Dr. Richard	In Person
01:04:47	Break
01:23:21	Witness Direct Examination	Stevens, Craig	Scher, Dr. Richard	In Person
01:38:34	General Case Activities
01:39:52	Witness Cross Examination	Cofer, Walter	Scher, Dr. Richard	In Person
02:27:48	Break
02:40:04	Witness Cross Examination	Cofer, Walter	Scher, Dr. Richard	In Person
03:08:24	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Stevens, Craig	Scher, Dr. Richard	In Person
03:18:16	General Case Activities
03:21:38	General Case Activities		Scher, Dr. Richard	In Person
03:27:18	General Case Activities
03:28:02	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Prysock, Gregory	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
01:11:05	Break
01:32:20	Witness Direct Examination	Prysock, Gregory	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
02:43:10	General Case Activities
02:45:09	General Case Activities
02:48:44	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Prysock, Gregory	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
00:37:09	Break
00:58:37	Witness Direct Examination	Prysock, Gregory	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
02:02:43	Break
02:19:30	Witness Direct Examination	Prysock, Gregory	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:07:17	Break
03:20:18	Witness Direct Examination	Prysock, Gregory	Cummings, Dr. Kenneth "Michael" Ph.D.	In Person
03:47:42	General Case Activities
03:49:35	General Case Activities
04:04:04	End of Session

Syzmanski v. R.J. Reynolds

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

Suggest a Trial

CVN Essentials

Video Library

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:30:04	Break
00:37:09	General Case Activities
00:43:28	General Case Activities
00:44:24	Witness Direct Examination	Stevens, Craig	Syzmanski, John	In Person
00:58:05	Break
01:05:27	Witness Direct Examination	Stevens, Craig	Syzmanski, John	In Person
01:10:51	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:29:01	Break
00:35:24	General Case Activities
00:35:52	Witness Direct Examination	Cofer, Walter	Webster, Ellis	In Person
01:49:56	Break
02:03:24	General Case Activities
02:14:07	Witness Cross Examination	Mitnik, Keith	Webster, Ellis	In Person
02:51:56	Break
03:05:30	Witness Cross Examination	Mitnik, Keith	Webster, Ellis	In Person
03:16:54	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Cofer, Walter	Webster, Ellis	In Person
03:20:04	General Case Activities
03:24:31	General Case Activities		Webster, Ellis	In Person
03:33:05	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:28:21	Break
00:36:45	General Case Activities
00:37:27	Witness Direct Examination	Brown, Jennifer	Kaplan, Dr. Eric M.D.	In Person
01:20:04	Break
01:39:53	General Case Activities
01:42:53	Witness Direct Examination	Brown, Jennifer	Kaplan, Dr. Eric M.D.	In Person
02:21:14	General Case Activities
02:22:20	General Case Activities
02:45:28	Break
03:01:13	Witness Cross Examination	Mitnik, Keith	Kaplan, Dr. Eric M.D.	In Person
03:41:55	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:00:49	Reading of the Verdict
		00:02:38	General Case Activities
		00:03:55	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:25:00	Closing Statement	Mitnik, Keith
01:57:38	General Case Activities
01:58:09	Break
02:16:32	General Case Activities
02:17:11	Closing Statement	Cofer, Walter
03:29:30	Break
03:36:24	Closing Statement	Kaschel, Nancy
03:53:19	Closing Statement	Burton, R. Dal
04:13:29	Closing Statement	Mitnik, Keith
04:31:03	General Case Activities
04:45:04	End of Session