Indiana Court Rules in Favor of Industry
04/19/01
The tobacco industry has prevailed in another sick-smoker case, with the Indiana Supreme Court upholding a jury verdict dating back to 1996.
Reuters reported April 18 that the family of smoker Richard Rogers sued the industry, claiming that cigarette companies sold an addictive product that caused Rogers' cancer. A jury found in favor of the industry, but the plaintiffs appeals to the state Supreme Court, saying that the judge in the case improperly communicated with the jury.
The high court agreed with lawyers for the industry, who said the jury was unaffected by the judge's action and deliberated for seven more hours after he replied to a query from jurors.
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