| Smoking has long been thought to cause a | | | | that would have helped them form a better |
| number of serious health problems, but most | | | | understanding of the risks of smoking. |
| cigarette companies often deceived the public | | | | |
| and the government about the true danger of | | | | While the class action ruling against tobacco |
| their products. In fact, after decades of | | | | companies de-certified and dismissed, this is |
| marketing cigarettes as safe, even healthy, | | | | actually beneficial to individual smokers |
| the truth began to trickle out. By 2006, a | | | | because now they can file lawsuits on their |
| Florida Supreme Court adopted a number of | | | | own behalf to recover extensive damages. |
| findings that will form the foundation of | | | | |
| further smoking litigation cases. These | | | | Florida smokers are in a unique position to |
| findings include: | | | | capitalize on this recent decision. While the |
| | | | initial objective of the Florida smokers |
| Florida Supreme Court, No. SC03-1856 Engle | | | | class action lawsuit was to allow large |
| vs. Liggett Group, page 8 | | | | groups of smokers to band together and get |
| | | | compensation for their injuries and hardship, |
| - At present, the nicotine found in tobacco | | | | individual lawsuits can now actually provide |
| is deemed to be addictive | | | | more restitution for victims of the greed and |
| | | | deception of tobacco companies. |
| - The defendants (i.e. the cigarette and | | | | |
| tobacco companies) made available defective | | | | The laws surrounding Florida tobacco law are |
| cigarettes that were "unreasonably dangerous" | | | | intentionally confusing and complicated. The |
| | | | tobacco companies hope that the perceived |
| - The defendants intentionally mislead | | | | difficulties of these legal actions will |
| smokers with deliberately false statements | | | | frustrate and deter victims from pursing the |
| intended to deceive them about the dangers of | | | | proper avenues for justice. The labor and |
| smoking | | | | work of dedicated legal professionals means |
| | | | that it is easier than ever to file a claim |
| - Defendants prevented their customers from | | | | in Florida, but there is only a limited |
| learning about the health effects and | | | | amount of time for potential litigants to |
| addictive nature of cigarettes by | | | | take action. |
| deliberately concealing and omitting material | | | | |