Buckingham v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
New Hampshire Supreme Court
142 N.H. 822, 713 A.2d 381 (1998)
- Written by Elliot Stern, JD
Facts
The estate of Roxanne Ramsey-Buckingham (the estate) (plaintiff) sued a group of cigarette manufacturers (the manufacturers) (defendants). The estate alleged that Ramsey-Buckingham had developed terminal lung cancer as a result of being exposed to tobacco smoke from cigarettes manufactured and sold by the manufacturers. The estate conceded that Ramsey-Buckingham did not smoke cigarettes but argued that it was foreseeable that nonsmoking bystanders would be endangered by the exposure to secondhand smoke. The estate contended that the manufacturers should be liable for harms caused by exposure to cigarette smoke because the cigarettes sold by the manufacturer were unreasonably dangerous. The court granted the manufacturers’ motion to dismiss, and the estate appealed.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Horton, J.)
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