IN-DEPTH SPECIAL: Tobacco under attack

July 6, 1999
Web posted at: 11:38 a.m. EDT (1538 GMT)

MIAMI (CNN) -- A six-member jury returned wrapped up a sixth day of deliberations Tuesday without a verdict in the first class-action lawsuit brought by smokers against the tobacco industry to reach the trial stage.

The resumption of deliberations after the long holiday weekend marked one year since jury selection began for the trial.

After welcoming the jury back, Dade Circuit Court Judge Robert Kaye promptly asked them to return to work. Once the jury was in the jury room, Kaye reminded the lawyers of the date and was wished a "Happy Anniversary" by lead tobacco attorney Robert Heim.

It was one of the few light moments in a year of often combative litigation between lawyers representing the tobacco industry and the plaintiffs' attorneys, Stanley and Susan Rosenblatt, a husband and wife legal team.

The Rosenblatts are representing as many as 500,000 sick or deceased Florida smokers and their survivors against five tobacco companies and two now-defunct industry groups.

The case could be worth $200 billion, if the tobacco industry is found liable for the illnesses the smokers claim they have suffered because of smoking.

The plaintiffs claim that the industry committed fraud, manipulated nicotine levels and concealed and misrepresented research showing the health hazards of smoking.

The tobacco industry argues that smoking is only a risk factor for various diseases, and that smokers can quit if they want to.

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