Lessons from Procedural Lapses That Sent Smokers' Claims Up in Smoke

The Eleventh Circuit recently affirmed dismissal of more than 700 lawsuits filed on behalf of Florida smokers and their families for a variety of procedural failures. 4432 Individual Tobacco Plaintiffs v. Various Tobacco Companies, Nos. 13-10839; 13-12901; 13-14302 (11th Cir. Sept. 10, 2014). The cases were part of claims filed on behalf of more than 4,000 putative plaintiffs after a related class action (Engle) was decertified.