Local News

Registration Begins For Smokers $600M Lawsuit

Registration Deadline Is June 16th

10,000 To 50,000 Sick Florida Smokers Expected To Apply

MIAMI (CBS4) ― Registration begins today for thousands of sick Florida smokers who may be eligible to get their share of a $600 million fund created by major tobacco companies as part of a decade old lawsuit.

In 1994, Miami Beach pediatrician Howard Engle and group of other smokers sued and won a case the cigarette makers for hiding the dangers of smoking and knowingly selling them a dangerous product. Those involved in the suit were awarded $145 billion in damages, but that award was thrown out in 2006 by the Florida Supreme Court. During the years of the trial, the major tobacco companies established a fund that would be paid out even if their appeal of the damage award failed.

Last week, a judge in Miami ordered that all of the money in the Engle Trust Fund be divided equally among all Florida smokers who could prove they became ill before Nov. 21, 1996.

"It applies to people across the state of Florida," said attorney Bob Kelley whose firm will represent about a thousand smokers or family members.

But not everyone is happy about the judge's decision.

55-year old Gregg Duyser from Hollywood is suffering from emphysema and other ailments. He said he was initially told he might get as much as $28 million, now it'll be only a fraction of that.

"It just seems wrong. It's getting way off track," Duyser said. "It's not supposed to be opening up the floodgates."

Circuit Judge David C. Miller set a registration deadline of June 16.

Smokers or families of smokers who have died must submit proof that their illness; cancer, emphysema and heart disease is, or was, linked to cigarette smoking.

Applicants can register at www.Engletrustfund.com.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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