Engle-Progeny Cases at Florida High Court Spotlight Disease Manifestation, Punitives

Arguments in two tobacco cases before the Florida Supreme Court Dec. 4 focused on a threshold issue for suing as an “Engle-progeny” plaintiff and on the availability of punitive damages when such a plaintiff doesn’t prove intentional torts (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. v. Ciccone, Fla., SC13-2415, oral argument 12/4/14; Soffer v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Fla., SC13-139, oral argument 12/4/14).

The unsettled issues potentially apply to many cases in the 8,000-case-strong litigation that arose following decertification of a smokers’ class in Engle v. Liggett Group Inc., 945 So. 2d 1246, Fla..

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