Florida Tobacco Fund
FLORIDA SMOKERS, EX-SMOKERS AND SURVIVORS OF
SMOKERS MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO SHARE IN A TRUST FUND
I. HISTORY
The Engle Class Action was filed in 1994 and went to trial against the tobacco industry in July, 1998. Howard A. Engle, M.D., et al., (Plaintiffs) v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Philip Morris, Inc., Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., individually and as successor to American Tobacco Co., Lorillard Tobacco Co., Lorillard, Inc., Liggett Group, Inc., Brooke Group Holdings, Inc. f/k/a Brooke Group, Ltd., Inc., Council for Tobacco Research U.S.A. and Tobacco Institute (Defendants). Case No. 94-08273 CA (22) Dade County Circuit Court. This Notice addresses a distinct, unprecedented monetary fund (the “Engle Trust Fund”) created for the class by Susan and Stanley Rosenblatt, counsel for the class.
II. QUALIFIED ENGLE CLASS MEMBERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A SHARE OF THE TRUST FUND MONEYS
You may be qualified to receive a monetary distribution from the Engle Trust Fund if: 1) you (or your decedent) smoked cigarettes and 2) developed one or more of the diseases and/or medical conditions mentioned below, and 3) that disease or medical condition was first diagnosed or first manifested itself (first appeared) on or before November 21, 1996, which is the class cut-off date established by the Florida Supreme Court.
- aortic aneurysm
- bladder cancer,
- cervical cancer
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - COPD (including emphysema)
- coronary heart disease (including cardiovascular disease
- hardening of the arteries
- atherosclerosis
- coronary artery disease and arterialosclerosis
- angina
- abnormal blood clotting
- blood vessel damage
- myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- esophageal (throat) cancer
- kidney cancer
- laryngeal (throat or voice box) cancer
- lung cancer (including adenocarcinoma, large cell carcinoma, small cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma)
- complications of pregnancy (miscarriage),
- oral cavity/tongue cancer
- pancreatic cancer
- peripheral vascular disease (including Buerger’s disease)
- pharyngeal cancer and stomach cancer.
III. THE ENGLE TRUST FUND IS NOT A SETTLEMENT OF CLASS MEMBERS’ CURRENT OR FUTURE INDIVIDUAL CLAIMS.
QUALIFIED Engle class members are eligible to receive money from the Engle Trust Fund without giving up existing or future individual claims against any defendants. The Engle Trust Fund distributions are separate from your rights in any individual lawsuit for damages for personal injury or death from smoking except for the possibility of a set off depending on the payment plan adopted by the Court. Class members who choose not to bring their own lawsuits are still eligible to receive money from the Engle Trust Fund.
* Please call to speak to an attorney
for a free qualification evaluation. *
1-800-749-3221
Beltz & Ruth
