A retrial of an Alaskan’s lawsuit against America’s largest Tobacco producer, Philip Morris, is still undecided.
Superior Court Judge Eric Smith declared a mistrial after jurors in Bethel deliberated for two days but were unable to reach a verdict.
Marshall resident Dolores Hunter and her two children sued the cigarette and tobacco company, as well as its parent company, for product liability after her husband died of lung cancer in 2004.
The lawsuit claims Philip Morris his the risk of smoking, leading Hunter’s husband Benjamin Francis to die at 52 following a long history of cigarette use.
According to the jury foreman, members of the jury agreed the company misrepresented its product, but could not agree on whether Francis believed “light” cigarettes were healthier.
The original trial was ruled in favor of Philip Morris in 2011, but the Alaska Supreme Court overturned the verdict and allowed for this retrial.
The decision on whether to request another trial will be made within a week.
