Fla. smokers face legal deadline

MIAMI, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Florida residents who want to sue tobacco companies for smoking-related disease must do so by Friday.

The deadline comes from a 2006 state Supreme Court decision, The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported. The court upheld a jury's finding that cigarette makers deceived smokers on health risks and tobacco addiction but that those involved in a class-action suit must sue as individuals.

In the past 18 months, hundreds of lawsuits have been filed. Plaintiffs' lawyers believe 5,000 to 10,000 suits are likely, the newspaper said, but a lawyer for Philip Morris said only 1,600 had been filed as of early this week.

David Sales, a West Palm Beach lawyer representing 630 plaintiffs, said his clients do not have to prove the tobacco companies were selling a defective product because that was established by the earlier case.

But William Ohlemeyer of Philip Morris said his company plans to defend every lawsuit.

"Most juries believe that no matter what you think about cigarette companies or what you have heard about cigarettes, people who smoke are making informed choices to smoke," he said.