Cigarette manufacturers not to blame for a man's cancer that he developed after years of smoking.

In 1993, Jimmie Willis, then in his mid-50s, was diagnosed with laryngeal and lung cancer, requiring multiple surgeries and leaving him with a quarter-sized hole in his throat. He claimed he started smoking at age five, smoked three packs a day and was able to quit only after he was diagnosed with cancer. He claimed R.J. Reynolds Tobacco and Philip Morris USA used persuasive advertising to hook young smokers. Defense counsel argued warnings ran on its ads since 1964 but Willis continued to smoke because he enjoyed it and made no attempt to quit.

Case Law Alert - 1st Qtr 2012