A local woman filed lawsuit against the tobacco companies on behalf of her Late husband, years after his death due to lung cancer. The court verdict has recently favored her with $5M award.

Ms. Gloria Bowden, wife of Late Mr. William Bowden Jr., in 2013 filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the tobacco companies Philip Morris USA and R.J. Reynolds.

At the age of 15, Mr. Willian began smoking, his addiction was so severe that even after his diagnosis of lung cancer, he didn't stop his habit. He died of cancer in 1994 at the age 69.

Today, we have clear indications from The National Cancer Institute about smoking and its hazardous effects, but in the '40s, there was not much awareness regarding cigarettes' addictive and harmful nature.

Ms. Gloria is a resident of Clay County. She has blamed the tobacco companies in her wrongful death lawsuit, whereas the companies deny their fault and fingers back at the smoker saying it was his decision to smoke.
The final verdict in the case came on March 26, in which the jury in the 4th Judicial Circuit ruled the case in Miss Gloria's favor with $5M.

Regarding his win in the case, Attorney Mark Avera, who represented Mrs. Bowden said that the battle is yet not over as tobacco companies can re-appeal the verdict. "Any time you can walk out with a verdict in your client's favor, when the folks on the other side are the tobacco industry and their lawyers, that's a success," he added.

The case was fought by Mr. Avera and Attorneys Rod Smith and Dawn Vallejos-Nichols of the Avera & Smith law firm in Gainesville.

No comments have yet been recovered from Philip Morris USA and the R.J. Reynolds attorneys. Total seven tobacco cases have been tried by Avera & Smith against the tobacco companies for not clearing the entire information to the consumers despite being familiar with all.