This article is a continuation of our previous article on large wrongful death cases. These major cases typically involve big companies, and multiple deaths. As Knoxville personal injury attorneys, we’ve seen this especially with automobile manufacturers whose faulty vehicles lead to accidents that cause deaths.

One notable landmark case took place in 2006, when major manufacturer Owens Corning agreed to pay a whopping 5.2 billion dollars in cash and equities to former employees and others who were victims of asbestos poisoning from their products. An astounding twenty five million workers were exposed to this hazardous carcinogen between 1940 and 1980. They contracted lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other health problems associated with asbestos. Because so many people have been exposed to asbestos, there will be decades-long latency periods. Often, there is overlap in case types. This was a huge Workers Compensation case. However, those individuals whose loved ones worked at Owens Corning and passed away from cancer and other diseases filed wrongful death cases.

Since 2006 when Owens Corning was forced to make this payout, more people have developed health problems, and lawsuits continue on, as new victims prove their exposure and illness due to asbestos in the workplace. Owens Corning was for many years a major supplier of asbestos-based fireproofing and insulation. Amazingly, the company remains strong today.

In Florida, the Morgan and Morgan law firm was able to procure settlements of two cases against R.J Reynolds Tobacco when a woman’s husband died from lung cancer and left her widowed. The verdict was $90,200,000. The total reward after apportioning damages based on assignment of fault was $46.3 million. RJ Reynolds is the second largest producer of cigarettes in the world, and has been the subject of many lawsuits for the past decade. New cases are still ongoing.

Another Florida firm obtained a jury verdict of $90.8 million in Townsend v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.,08-CA-131, Florida Circuit Court (Gainsville). A team of personal injury attorneys represented Lyantie Townsend in this lawsuit against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. In 1995, Mrs. Townsend was widowed when her husband Frank died from lung cancer.

More recently, a US court ordered the tobacco company to pay an incredible $16.8 billion in compensatory damages for the death of Cynthia Robinson’s husband. This verdict was handed down in 2014. That is correct, billions of dollars! $23.6 billion was the grand total including punitive fines.

Robinson’s lawyer was quoted as saying, “”RJ Reynolds took a calculated risk by manufacturing cigarettes and selling them to consumers without properly informing them of the hazards.”. The court’s decision was clearly an attempt at sending a message to tobacco companies that they will be penalized for putting people’s lives at risk, and must do everything possible to inform people of the risks involved with using their products.

All of these cases fall under the “wrongful death” category, with which our firm is highly experienced. Consumers must stand up against manufacturers who do not make consumer safety a priority. Our personal injury firm has represented victims of wrongful death in the Knoxville, Sevierville and Pigeon Forge area, and we understand how devastating these tragedies are for a family. When a life is lost due to the negligence or wrongdoing of any individual or company, justice absolutely must be sought for the victim and their loved ones.