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Widow of chain smoker wins $23.6BILLION in damages from tobacco company she sued over his death….

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7 years ago

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A Florida jury has slammed the nation’s No. 2 cigarette maker, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., with $23.6 billion in punitive damages in a lawsuit filed by the widow of a longtime smoker who died of lung cancer in 1996.

The case is one of thousands filed in Florida after the state Supreme Court in 2006 tossed out a $145 billion class action verdict. That ruling also said smokers and their families need only prove addiction and that smoking caused their illnesses or deaths.

Last year, Florida’s highest court re-approved that decision, which made it easier for sick smokers or their survivors to pursue lawsuits against tobacco companies without having to prove to the court again that Big Tobacco knowingly sold dangerous products and hid the hazards of cigarette smoking.

Addiction: A 2006 ruling determined that smokers and their families need only prove addiction and that smoking caused their illnesses or deaths

The damages a Pensacola jury awarded Friday to Cynthia Robinson after a four-week trial come in addition to $16.8 million in compensatory damages.

Robinson individually sued Reynolds in 2008 on behalf of her late husband, Michael Johnson Sr. Her attorneys said the punitive damages are the largest of any individual case stemming from the original class action lawsuit.

‘The jury wanted to send a statement that tobacco cannot continue to lie to the American people and the American government about the addictiveness of and the deadly chemicals in their cigarettes,’ said one of the woman’s attorneys, Christopher Chestnut.

Reynolds’ vice president and assistant general counsel, J. Jeffery Raborn, called the damages in Robinson’s case ‘grossly excessive and impermissible under state and constitutional law.’

‘This verdict goes far beyond the realm of reasonableness and fairness, and is completely inconsistent with the evidence presented,’ Raborn said in a statement. ‘We plan to file post-trial motions with the trial court promptly, and are confident that the court will follow the law and not allow this runaway verdict to stand.’

The lawsuit’s goal was to stop tobacco companies from targeting children and young people with their advertising, said Willie Gary, another attorney representing Robinson.

‘If we don’t get a dime, that’s OK, if we can make a difference and save some lives,’ Gary said.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court turned away cigarette manufacturers’ appeals of more than $70 million in court judgments to Florida smokers. Reynolds, Philip Morris USA Inc. and Lorillard Tobacco Co. had wanted the court to review cases in which smokers won large damage awards without having to prove that the companies sold a defective and dangerous product or hid the risks of smoking.

The Supreme Court refused to hear another of the companies’ appeals last year, wanting the court to consider overturning a $2.5 million Tampa jury verdict in the death of a smoker.

Other Florida juries have hit tobacco companies with tens of millions of dollars in punitive damages in lawsuits stemming from the original class action lawsuit.

In August, a Fort Lauderdale jury awarded $37.5 million, including $22.5 million in punitive damages against Reynolds, to the family of a smoker who died at age 38 of lung cancer in 1995.

Attorneys for Reynolds said they would appeal, arguing that the woman knew the dangers of smoking because cigarettes had warning labels when she started. The attorney for the woman’s family said teenagers like her were targeted by tobacco companies.

Reynolds' vice president and assistant general counsel, J. Jeffery Raborn, called the damages in Robinson's case "grossly excessive and impermissible under state and constitutional law"

Some large jury verdicts awarding tens of millions of dollars in damages to relatives of smokers have been upheld by appeals courts.

In September, the 3rd District Court of Appeals affirmed $25 million in punitive damages and $10 million in compensatory damages against Lorillard, the country’s No. 3 cigarette maker, for Dorothy Alexander, whose husband died in 1996 of lung cancer. Lorillard, based in Greensboro, North Carolina, unsuccessfully argued the damages were excessive and raised a number of other claims.

The 1st District Court of Appeals upheld in June 2013 a $20 million punitive damage award to another smoker’s widow, more than a year after reversing a $40.8 million award in the same case against Reynolds. After the appeals court rejected the first award as excessive the award amount was recalculated. The tobacco company still objected.

Philip Morris is the country’s biggest tobacco company and owned by Richmond, Virginia-based Altria Group Inc. Reynolds is owned by Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based Reynolds American Inc.

DAILYMAIL UK

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Afreximbank To Support Aircraft Financing for Nigerian Airlines Following Productive Side Meeting at Dublin Aviation Economic Conference

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16 hours ago

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January 15, 2025

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A significant milestone in Nigeria’s aviation sector was achieved during a side meeting held with the Afreximbank team at the ongoing Aviation Economic Conference in Dublin, Republic of Ireland. The meeting, facilitated by Boeing’s Senior Director of Finance, Lereece Rose, brought together key stakeholders to discuss aircraft financing opportunities for Nigerian airlines.

 

The meeting was attended by the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo SAN, who led the Nigerian delegation. The delegation included distinguished members such as the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari; Chairman, House Committee on Aviation, Hon. Abdullahi Idris Garba, Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance, and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Abiru Adetokunbo; Director General of the NCAA, Capt. Chris Najomo; Managing Director of Fidelity Bank, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; COO of Air Peace, Toyin Olajide; CEO of XEJet, Emmanuel Iza; Chairman, ValueJet, Kunle Soname and his Managing Director, Capt. Majekodunmi, and Chairman/CEO of Bellagio Air, Dr. Oludare Akande, among other aviation stakeholders.

 

At the meeting, Afreximbank, led by its Director and Global Head of Project and Asset-Based Finance, Helen Brume, agreed in principle to collaborate with Nigeria on aircraft financing. Afreximbank, a 30-year-old development financing institution, has a primary mandate to promote trade across Africa. Highlighting the bank’s extensive experience in supporting airlines such as Arik Air, Kenya Airways, and TAG over the past two decades, Brume emphasized the need for robust aviation infrastructure to enhance the competitiveness of African airlines.

 

To address this, Afreximbank announced plans to launch a leasing subsidiary, which will soon take delivery of 25 aircraft to be leased to African airlines. This initiative aims to provide Nigerian airlines with access to dry-leased aircraft, enabling them to better service Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA) routes and domestic operations.

 

Lereece Rose commended the Honourable Minister for his efforts in improving Nigeria’s aviation ecosystem, particularly in raising Nigeria’s Cape Town Convention score from 49.5% to 75.5%. This progress underscores the country’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for aircraft financing and leasing.

 

The Honourable Minister highlighted the critical need for partnerships that would enhance access to aircraft financing for Nigerian operators, facilitating growth and improved service delivery. In response, Afreximbank affirmed its readiness to work with the Nigerian government, signaling a promising future for the country’s aviation industry.

 

A committee has been established to follow up on the discussions, ensuring that this partnership materializes into actionable solutions for Nigerian airlines.

 

Tunde Moshood

Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development

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Lagos broadcast stations decry union violence, 48-hour shutdown

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2 days ago

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January 14, 2025

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The management of Lagos State Government-owned broadcast stations has condemned the recent violent actions by striking union members, which disrupted operations and forced the stations off-air for 48 hours.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Head of Service, Establishments and Training, Afolabi Ayantayo, it was disclosed that the affected stations—Lagos Television, Radio Lagos/Eko 89.7FM, and Traffic Radio—were attacked on Monday by workers allegedly affiliated with the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Radio, Television, Theatre, and Arts Workers Union, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists.

The statement noted that striking workers reportedly vandalised studio doors, assaulted on-air presenters, switched off transmitters, and severed cables in an attempt to enforce the strike.

“The stations—LTV, Radio Lagos/Eko 89.7FM, and Traffic Radio—were forced off-air for 48 hours by workers who destroyed studio doors and assaulted presenters. They switched off transmitters and severed cables in unprecedented acts of violence, captured on video. Many workers were also whipped for refusing to join the strike, which aimed to pressure the government into placing about 400 workers on the civil service payroll,” the statement read.

Describing the incident as unprecedented, the station managers expressed their disappointment with the unions’ approach.

“Despite the State Government’s open communication channels, the leadership of NLC, RATTAWU, and NUJ chose the path of violence—both in words and actions,” the managers said in the statement.

They further described the strike as not only an attack on the broadcast stations but also a show of disrespect towards state authorities.

“The strike, which the managers have described as an attack and a sign of disrespect for the authorities, has raised doubts about the leadership of the NLC, RATTAWU, and NUJ in Lagos being committed to an amicable resolution of the crisis.”

The statement added that the union leaders have been invited to another meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 15 January 2025, to discuss the issues in dispute.

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CBN Fines Zenith, First Bank, Globus Bank, Others N1.3 Billion For Not Dispensing Cash

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2 days ago

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January 14, 2025

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has fined nine deposit money banks in Nigeria a sum of N150 million each, amounting to N1.350 billion for failing to dispense cash through their Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) during the yuletide season.

According to the apex bank, the sanctioned banks include Fidelity Bank Plc, First Bank Plc, Keystone Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc, Globus Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc, and two others.

This is according to a press statement on Tuesday by CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali.

The statement read “In a clear message of zero tolerance for cash flow disruptions, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has sanctioned Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) for failing to make Naira notes available through automated teller machines (ATMs), during the yuletide season.

“Each bank was fined N150 million for non-compliance, in line with the CBN’s cash distribution guidelines, following spot checks on their branches. The enforcement action follows repeated warnings from the CBN to financial institutions to guarantee seamless cash availability, particularly during periods of high demand.

 

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