The Winston-Salem Journal has published a report on their website about Kelley/Uustal’s recent victory against tobacco company R.J. Reynolds on behalf of the surviving family of Matthew Buonomo. Mr. Buonomo died at the age of 80 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in 2008 after heavily smoking since the age of 13. The lawsuit accused the company of knowingly concealing the risks associated with cigarette smoking through deceptive means.
In case you missed our last blog, Attorneys John Uustal, Eric Rosen, and Todd McPharlin successfully obtained $4.1 million in damages for Mr. Buonomo’s widow and an additional $25 million in punitive damages. So far, R.J. Reynolds has declined to comment on the ruling.
This case is one of many Engle progeny lawsuits springing from a 2006 Florida Supreme Court decision decertifying a proposed $145 billion class-action lawsuit. Those who wish to take legal action are required to file individual lawsuits stating that their illnesses, or the deaths of loved ones, were caused by cigarettes.
Kelley/Uustal has successfully handled numerous cases against Big Tobacco companies like R.J. Reynolds.
