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Date: 03-17-1998
Case Style: Dunn v. RJR Nabisco Holdings Corporation d/b/a R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Brown & Williams Tobacco Corp., Philip Morris, Inc., Liggett Group, Inc., American Tobacco Co., Lorillard Tobacco Co., et al.
Case Number: 18D01-9305-CT-06
Judge: Unknown
Court: Circuit Court of Delaware County
Plaintiff's Attorney: Ronald Motley, Edward J. Westbrook and Charles Patroick of Nes, Motley, Loadholt, Richardson & Poole, Charleston, South Carolina; P. Gregory Cross of Cross, Marshall, Schuck, DeWeese, Cross & Feick, P.C., Muncie, Indiana; Max Howard of Howard & Walker; and William N. Riley of Riley & Dudley, Indianoplis, Indiana.
Defendant's Attorney: William S. Ohlemeyer of Shook, Hardy & Bacon, L.L.P., Kansas City, Missouri; Douglas J. Hill of Hill, Fulwider, McDowell, Funk & Matthews, Indianapolis, Indiana; David O. Tittle of Bingham, Summers, Welsch & Spilman, Indianapolis, Indiana; Richard D. Wagner, of Krieg, Devault, Alexander & Capehart, Indianapolist, Indiana; Daniel F. Kolb of Davis, Polk & Wardwell, New York, New York; Jeffrey L. Furr of Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge & Rice, P.L.L.C., Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Scott E. Shockley of DeFur, Voran, Hanley, Radcliff & Reed, Muncie, Indiana; and Joseph F. Tringali of Simpson, Thacker & Barlett, New York, New York.
Description: Products liability - tobacco products - second hand smoke - wrongful death. Mildred Wiley, a non-smoking Veteran's Administration nurse, who was regularly exposed to second-hand smoke at work, died of lung cancer. The defense contended that the cancer began in the pancrease, not the lungs, and that it was not caused by Mrs. Wiley's exposure to tobacco smoke.
Outcome: Verdict for all Defendants.
Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown
Defendant's Experts: Unknown
Comments: Causation is a very big problem in this kind of case.