Philip Morris ordered to pay Fla. woman $300 million; largest award yet among state's casesNovember 19th, 2009 Fla. jury awards $300 million in ex-smoker's suitMIAMI — A South Florida jury on Thursday ordered Philip Morris USA to pay $300 million to a former smoker, agreeing that the tobacco company's negligence was the cause of her emphysema. The award for Cindy Naugle, 61, is the largest to date among thousands of lawsuits filed in the state against tobacco companies.
Verdict expected in German trial over courtroom stabbing of Egyptian womanNovember 11th, 2009 Verdict expected in German courtroom stabbingDRESDEN, Germany — A German court is expected to deliver its verdict today in the case of a man charged with murder for the courtroom stabbing of a pregnant Egyptian woman. Prosecutors are seeking a life prison sentence for defendant Alexander Wiens, a 28-year-old Russian-born German.
NC Supreme Court sides with tobacco companies over ending payments to Md., Pa. growersNovember 6th, 2009 Court ends tobacco company payments in Md., Pa.RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina's highest court says three cigarette companies can stop making payments to tobacco farmers in Maryland and Pennsylvania through a decade-old settlement.
U. of Mich. dropping appeal of $1.7M verdict for ex-dental student, says it will settle caseOctober 30th, 2009 U. of Mich. to settle case with ex-dental studentDETROIT — The University of Michigan is dropping an appeal of a $1.7 million verdict awarded to a former dental student who said she was illegally kicked out of school. In a court filing, lawyers for Alissa Zwick and four faculty members say they have agreed to settle the case.
Prosecutor: Janitor accused of killing NJ priest used aliases to hide '88 arrest warrantOctober 29th, 2009 Prosecutor: Priest slaying suspect used aliasesMORRISTOWN, N.J. — A janitor who confessed to stabbing a New Jersey priest to death last week had been trying to cover up a two-decade-old arrest warrant by using fake names and identification, a prosecutor said Thursday in requesting the man's bail remain at $1 million.
Caretaker says Ohio woman who recanted West Virginia torture claim has changed story beforeOctober 22nd, 2009 Caretaker: Woman has changed torture story beforeCOLUMBUS, Ohio — A black Ohio woman who recanted allegations of being tortured by a group of white people in West Virginia has mental issues and has more than once changed her version of what happened, her current caretaker said Thursday. Valencia Daniels told The Associated Press that Megan Williams "goes back and forth, back and forth" about the 2007 allegations of being beaten, raped and tortured.
Texas store clerk accused of stealing customer's $1M winning lottery ticket, skipping townOctober 21st, 2009 Store clerk accused of stealing $1M lottery prizeAUSTIN, Texas — A 25-year-old convenience store clerk pocketed a customer's $1 million winning lottery ticket, claimed the prize and skipped town, possibly back to his native Nepal, authorities said. Pankaj Joshi took 67-year-old Willis Willis' winning Mega Millions megaplier ticket after Willis asked Joshi in May to check whether any of his numbers were winners, investigators said in a search warrant affidavit last month.
Verdict in Montana lawsuit against drug maker Zometa could have national significanceOctober 19th, 2009 Trial begins in lawsuit against maker of ZometaMISSOULA, Mont. — A trial is under way in a Montana woman's lawsuit against Swiss drug maker Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., and attorneys say the verdict could have national significance.
First jury verdict over birth defects linked to Paxil yields $2.5M in PhiladelphiaOctober 14th, 2009 Jury orders Glaxo to pay $2.5M in Paxil casePHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia jury has ordered GlaxoSmithKline to pay $2.5 million over birth defects allegedly caused by its antidepressant drug Paxil. The verdict is the first of about 600 similar Paxil lawsuits filed around the country.
Son of NYC socialite Brooke Astor could get 25 years for looting her $200 million estateOctober 9th, 2009 Son of NYC socialite Astor could get 25 yearsNEW YORK — Philanthropist Brooke Astor's 85-year-old son had it all but wanted more, and now he might have to face his remaining years in a stark prison cell after being convicted of looting his ailing mother's nearly $200 million estate. The verdict against Anthony Marshall, a former U.S.
Prosecutors seeking DNA sample from man accused in Craigslist killingOctober 7th, 2009 Prosecutors seek DNA sample in Craigslist killing
BOSTON — Prosecutors said Wednesday they are seeking a DNA sample from a former Boston University medical student charged with killing a masseuse he met on Craigslist, but the man's lawyer would not say whether he will turn it over voluntarily. Philip Markoff, 23, has pleaded not guilty in the April 14 fatal shooting of Julissa Brisman, of New York City, and the armed robbery four days earlier of a Las Vegas woman, both at Boston hotels.
Ontario files suit against tobacco industry, seeks billions to pay for tobacco-related illnessSeptember 30th, 2009 Ontario files suit against tobacco industryTORONTO — The Canadian province of Ontario said Tuesday it is suing the tobacco industry in a bid to recover billions of dollars in smoking-related health care costs. The lawsuit seeks 50 billion Canadian dollars ($46 billion) from a dozen Canadian companies and their corporate parents.
Ontario files suit against tobacco manufacturersSeptember 30th, 2009 Ontario files suit against tobaccoTORONTO — The Canadian province of Ontario has become the latest jurisdiction to launch a lawsuit to recover smoking-related health costs from the tobacco industry. The suit seeks $50 billion Canadian (US$46 billion) from a dozen Canadian firms and their parent companies.
Colombian court denies extradition for rebel accused of kidnapping LA Times journalistsSeptember 25th, 2009 Court: no extradition in journalists' abductionBOGOTA — Colombia's Supreme Court has denied a U.S. request to extradite a rebel commander accused of ordering the 12-day kidnapping in 2003 of two journalists on assignment for The Los Angeles Times.
Int'l Trade Commission to stop illegal Internet imports of counterfeit Marlboro cigarettesSeptember 24th, 2009 Int'l Trade Comm. stops import of fake cigarettesRICHMOND, Va.
