R.J. Reynolds Asks Florida High Court To Address Reliance In Engle Fraud Claims

Mealey's (June 10, 2020, 3:43 PM EDT) -- TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (RJR) in a May 26 jurisdictional answer brief urges the Florida Supreme Court to confirm a divided appellate panel’s reversal of a $6.4 million compensatory damages verdict for a smoker’s daughter due to the trial court not instructing the jury to find whether the decedent relied on fraudulent statements by RJR and asks that if the high court accepts jurisdiction, it also review RJR’s arguments against the use of Engle Phase I findings in establishing the conduct element of claims brought by Engle progeny plaintiffs (Linda Prentice v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, No. SC20-291, Fla. Sup.)....