Perez v. R.J. Reynolds

Summary

In this tobacco trial, Juan Gonzales developed fatal laryngeal cancer after smoking cigarettes for five decades. Gonzales' family sues R.J. Reynolds, asserting that its Lucky Strike brand cigarettes caused his cancer.

Representatives for Gonzales' family claim Reynolds’ cigarettes were defectively designed because Reynolds manipulated nicotine levels and inhalability to make them more addictive.

Attorneys for Reynolds argue that nicotine and inhalability are inherent qualities of cigarettes and that a product’s danger does not mean it is defectively designed. Additionally, they assert that Gonzales was aware of the risks yet ignored them and continued to smoke for personal enjoyment.