Three law firms joined together to represent Linda Purdo Enochs in a wrongful death lawsuit of her husband, Thomas Purdo, against tobacco giants R.J. Reynolds and Philip Morris. A Palm Beach jury awarded a total of $33.5 million in damages to the family. This was the largest tobacco verdict in Palm Beach County. The family was represented by Alex Alvarez of the Alvarez Law Firm in Coral Gables, Florida; Gary Paige of Gordon & Doner in Palm Beach and Jordan Chaikin of the Chaikin Law Firm in Fort Myers, Florida.
The jury awarded $21 million in compensatory damages, 7 million to Ms. Purdo Enochs who was 49 years old when she lost her husband. Another 7 million was awarded to each of their children, Lauren who was 15, and Zack who was 9, when their father died. The jury also awarded an additional $12.5 million in punitive damages against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. and Philip Morris as punishment for their misconduct that caused the death of Mr. Purdo.
Thomas Purdo began smoking in 1958, at the age of 13, when smoking was popularized by the prevalence and extensive marketing practices of the tobacco industry. He smoked filters and low tar cigarettes believing that they were safer. Purdo, the co-captain of the Michigan State University hockey team that won the NCAA championship in the 1960s was only 52 when he died of lung cancer.
If you think you or someone you love needs legal help with a serious injury case, contact one of the lawyers at The Alvarez Law Firm at (877) 445-7675 or email us at [email protected]
