$100M settlement for hundreds in Florida tobacco lawsuits

MIAMI (AP) — A $100 million settlement has been reached between three major tobacco companies and hundreds of people who sued them for smoking-related deaths and illnesses in Florida federal court.

The tentative agreement announced today involves R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Philip Morris USA Inc. and Lorillard Tobacco Co. The deal resolves about 400 cases pending before a federal judge in Jacksonville, Fla., but does not affect thousands of other lawsuits pending in Florida state courts.

"With respect to the cases pending in state court, we will continue to defend them vigorously, which includes appealing adverse verdicts," said Jeff Raborn, vice president and assistant general counsel for R.J. Reynolds, based in Winston-Salem, N.C.

The lawsuits stemmed from a 2006 Florida Supreme Court decision, known as Engle v. Liggett Group, which threw out a $145 billion class-action verdict against cigarette makers.

That decision let stand findings that the companies knowingly sold dangerous products and hid smoking hazards, meaning future juries could consider that as proven fact. But the ruling also required smokers and their families to pursue individual wrongful-death and personal-injury lawsuits based on cigarette use.