Cohen v. R.J. Reynolds, et al

Summary

In this Engle progeny tobacco litigation, plaintiff David Cohen (personal representative of the estate of Helen Cohen) alleged RJ Reynolds and Philips Morris Tobacco Co of fraudulent concealment of dangers of smoking cigarettes manufactured by the companies, which led his wife Helen Cohen to get addicted to smoking and also of being liable of manufacturing defective cigarettes which resulted in Mrs. Cohens death due to Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The plaintiff was represented by attorneys Steven Hammer and Jonathan Gdanski. The defense in this case comprised of RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris Tobacco Co. RJ Reynolds was represented by attorneys W. Ray Persons, W. Randall Bassett and Todd Davis. Philip Morris Tobacco Co was represented by attorneys Stanley Davis and David Woods.

Outcome

Verdict for plaintiff - $2,055,050.26

Medical/Funeral Expenses - $55,050.26
David Cohen - $2,000,000.00

Fault/Responsibility %:
Cohen - 40%
RJ Reynolds - 25%
Lorillard - 15%
Liggett - 5%
Philip Morris - 15%

Case Information

Attorneys

Witnesses

Plaintiff: Cohen, David
Defense: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
Philip Morris Tobacco Co
Liggett Group Inc.
Verdict: $2,055,050

Judge: Meenu Sasser
Jurisdiction: 15th Judicial Circuit of Florida
Court: Palm Beach County Courthouse

Case Number: 2009CA4042
Industry: Tobacco
Practice Area: Tobacco

Plaintiff

Cohen, David

Represented By:
Hammer, Steven (Schlesinger Law Offices, PA)
Gdanski, Jonathan (Schlesinger Law Offices, PA)

Defense

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Represented By:
Persons, W. Ray (King & Spalding, LLP)
Bassett, W. Randall (King & Spalding, LLP)
Davis, Todd (King & Spalding, LLP)

Defense

Philip Morris Tobacco Co

Represented By:
Davis, Stanley (Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP)
Woods, David (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

11 Chapters

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:16:27	Break
00:22:16	General Case Activities
00:43:23	General Case Activities
01:02:15	Break
01:19:49	General Case Activities
01:29:59	Opening Statement	Hammer, Steven
02:35:09	Break
02:39:11	General Case Activities
02:46:45	Opening Statement	Hammer, Steven
03:12:39	End of Session

PM Session

Openings

6 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

11 Chapters

PM Session

Other

5 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

8 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

9 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

11 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

14 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Ferrone, Dr. William MD	Video Recording
00:28:21	Break
00:34:50	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Ferrone, Dr. William MD	Video Recording
01:38:05	Break
01:45:05	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Cohen, Ms. Rachel	Video Recording
02:26:48	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

12 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Wright, Dr. Ronald	In Person
00:23:36	Witness Cross Examination	Coronato, Wilfred	Wright, Dr. Ronald	In Person
00:31:56	Witness Cross Examination	Davis, Stanley	Wright, Dr. Ronald	In Person
00:51:15	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Wright, Dr. Ronald	In Person
00:53:51	Break
01:05:39	General Case Activities
01:14:39	Witness Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Cohen, Mr. Edward	In Person
02:40:29	Witness Cross Examination	Coronato, Wilfred	Cohen, Mr. Edward	In Person
03:15:43	Witness Cross Examination	Persons, W. Ray	Cohen, Mr. Edward	In Person
03:29:06	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Cohen, Mr. Edward	In Person
03:33:26	General Case Activities
04:26:23	End of Session

APR

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

6 Chapters

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

PM Session

Not in Session

0 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Other

2 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

APR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

10 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Coronato, Wilfred	Rosenkrantz, Dr. Carl MD	In Person
00:08:26	Witness Cross Examination	Davis, Todd	Rosenkrantz, Dr. Carl MD	In Person
00:32:15	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Rosenkrantz, Dr. Carl MD	In Person
01:14:45	Break
01:46:15	Witness Direct Examination	Schlesinger, Scott	DiFranza, Dr. Joseph M.D.	In Person
02:05:36	Witness Cross Examination	Persons, W. Ray	DiFranza, Dr. Joseph M.D.	In Person
03:40:56	Break
03:42:45	General Case Activities
04:03:30	General Case Activities
06:11:19	End of Session

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

AM Session

Other

2 Chapters

APR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

AM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

7 Chapters

APR

PM Session

Plaintiff Witness(es)

5 Chapters

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	Witness Cross Examination	Schlesinger, Scott	Dosovitz, Dr. Ira M.D.	In Person
00:44:58	Break
00:58:53	Witness Cross Examination	Schlesinger, Scott	Dosovitz, Dr. Ira M.D.	In Person
02:00:26	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Persons, W. Ray	Dosovitz, Dr. Ira M.D.	In Person
02:26:39	End of Session

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

5 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Other

2 Chapters

PM Session

Defense Witness(es)

9 Chapters

AM Session

Defense Witness(es)

8 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Closings

12 Chapters

PM Session

Other

4 Chapters

APR

AM Session

Closings

3 Chapters

PM Session

Closings

11 Chapters

PM Session

Other

2 Chapters

MAY

AM Session

Other

3 Chapters

PM Session

Verdict

3 Chapters

MAY

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

Cohen v. R.J. Reynolds, et al

Summary

Outcome

Sessions

AudioCaseFiles

Essentials

Training Libraries

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:01:45	Opening Statement	Persons, W. Ray
01:12:38	Opening Statement	Woods, David
01:40:19	Closing Statement	Kaschel, Nancy
01:47:24	Opening Statement	Davis, Stanley
01:57:38	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities		Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
00:15:34	Break
00:28:02	General Case Activities
00:37:10	General Case Activities
00:38:35	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:20:58	Break
02:22:27	General Case Activities
02:26:38	Break
02:36:08	General Case Activities
02:46:56	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:24:41	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:10:35	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:27:41	Break
02:35:20	General Case Activities
03:46:35	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:22:02	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:21:48	General Case Activities
01:34:57	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:03:52	General Case Activities
02:05:57	Break
02:11:18	General Case Activities
02:44:20	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:24:20	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
02:10:25	Break
02:18:08	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:50:32	General Case Activities
04:00:29	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:07:34	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Rose, Ms. Linda	Video Recording
01:40:33	Break
01:54:50	General Case Activities
03:04:15	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:08:56	Witness Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Rodriguez, Eva	In Person
00:54:37	Witness Cross Examination	Coronato, Wilfred	Rodriguez, Eva	In Person
00:59:04	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Rodriguez, Eva	In Person
01:02:28	Break
01:03:51	General Case Activities
01:05:27	Break
01:15:20	General Case Activities
01:18:35	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:25:17	Witness Cross Examination	Bassett, W. Randall	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:28:17	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:02:01	Witness Cross Examination	Bassett, W. Randall	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
00:26:20	Break
00:33:01	General Case Activities
00:42:21	Witness Cross Examination	Bassett, W. Randall	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
01:57:45	Break
02:09:15	Witness Cross Examination	Bassett, W. Randall	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:09:02	Witness Cross Examination	Michael, Geoffre	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:28:15	Witness Cross Examination	Davis, Stanley	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
03:44:45	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
04:29:45	General Case Activities		Proctor, Dr. Robert , Ph.D.	In Person
04:31:49	Break
04:37:45	General Case Activities
04:58:50	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:06:45	Witness Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Dudley, Dr. Robert MD	In Person
01:29:45	Break
01:47:45	Witness Cross Examination	Davis, Stanley	Dudley, Dr. Robert MD	In Person
01:59:25	Witness Cross Examination	Coronato, Wilfred	Dudley, Dr. Robert MD	In Person
02:01:11	Witness Re-Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Dudley, Dr. Robert MD	In Person
02:11:18	General Case Activities		Dudley, Dr. Robert MD	In Person
02:13:33	Witness Re-Cross Examination	Davis, Stanley	Dudley, Dr. Robert MD	In Person
02:18:16	General Case Activities		Dudley, Dr. Robert MD	In Person
02:23:01	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:15:43	Witness Direct Examination	Schlesinger, Scott	DiFranza, Dr. Joseph M.D.	In Person
01:34:42	Break
01:45:05	General Case Activities
01:47:39	Witness Direct Examination	Schlesinger, Scott	DiFranza, Dr. Joseph M.D.	In Person
02:45:32	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:25	General Case Activities
00:32:50	Break
00:37:44	General Case Activities
00:51:46	Witness Direct Examination	Gdanski, Jonathan	Rosenkrantz, Dr. Carl MD	In Person
02:20:45	Break
02:32:46	Witness Cross Examination	Coronato, Wilfred	Rosenkrantz, Dr. Carl MD	In Person
03:14:20	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:07:13	Witness Cross Examination	Coronato, Wilfred	Cohen, Mr. David	In Person
01:07:39	Break
01:18:06	General Case Activities
03:18:29	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:15:45	Witness Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Cohen, Mr. David	In Person
01:46:10	Break
02:14:04	Witness Direct Examination	Hammer, Steven	Cohen, Mr. David	In Person
03:01:15	Witness Cross Examination	Coronato, Wilfred	Cohen, Mr. David	In Person
03:42:45	General Case Activities
04:34:38	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:10:28	Witness Direct Examination	Persons, W. Ray	Dosovitz, Dr. Ira M.D.	In Person
01:34:08	Break
01:47:05	Witness Cross Examination	Schlesinger, Scott	Dosovitz, Dr. Ira M.D.	In Person
03:06:54	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:04:34	Witness Direct Examination	Coronato, Wilfred	Santini, Dr. Alexandra MD	Video Recording
01:18:34	Break
01:26:34	General Case Activities
01:33:20	Witness Direct Examination	Coronato, Wilfred	Wasserman, Dr. Ryan MD	Video Recording
02:41:04	General Case Activities
02:48:04	Break
03:42:39	General Case Activities
07:01:11	End of Session

	Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:23:39	Break
00:31:04	General Case Activities
00:38:55	Witness Direct Examination	Kaschel, Nancy	Klein, Mrs. Gloria	Video Recording
01:23:04	General Case Activities
01:32:20	Break
01:49:56	General Case Activities
03:04:06	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:06:00	Break
00:11:49	General Case Activities
00:38:30	General Case Activities
00:53:48	Break
00:59:35	General Case Activities
01:34:40	General Case Activities
02:18:15	Closing Statement	Schlesinger, Scott
03:08:39	General Case Activities
03:20:55	Closing Statement	Schlesinger, Scott
04:52:05	Closing Statement	Hammer, Steven
05:17:00	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	General Case Activities
		00:47:35	Break
		00:53:49	General Case Activities
		01:19:15	End of Session

	Description	Attorney
00:00:00	General Case Activities
00:09:00	Closing Statement	Persons, W. Ray
02:07:22	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:13	General Case Activities
		01:10:05	General Case Activities
		01:12:37	End of Session

			Description	Attorney	Witness	Presence
		00:00:00	Reading of the Verdict
		00:22:14	General Case Activities
		01:11:15	End of Session