Will Tobacco Personal Injury Lawsuits Ignite Following Recent California Supreme Court Ruling?
A recent California Supreme Court ruling about the statute of limitations for filing a personal injury claim against the tobacco industry could spark a whole new round of product liability lawsuits against tobacco companies in the state. Specifically, the California Supreme Court struck down a tobacco industry claim that people can only file suit for smoking-related personal injuries within two years of becoming addicted to these products. The Court found that this two-year statute-of-limitations does not actually begin upon becoming addicted to cigarettes but rather ensues after being diagnosed with a disease caused by tobacco. This case centered around the claims of Leslie Grisham, who said that she became addicted to cigarettes in the 1960s and was recently diagnosed with emphysema and periodontal disease. Grisham claimed that she should be able to file a product liability lawsuit against the tobacco industry after being diagnosed with these ailments. Hearing the case from a 9th Cir
