Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc.
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
644 F. Supp. 283 (1986)
- Written by Solveig Singleton, JD
Facts
Antonio Cipollone (plaintiff) sued the Liggett Group, Inc. (Liggett) (defendant), the companies that manufactured and sold cigarettes consumed by Antonio’s deceased wife, Rose Cipollone. Rose had died of lung cancer. Antonio brought product-liability claims against Liggett individually and on behalf of Rose as administrator of her estate. Antonio argued that Liggett should be strictly liable for Rose’s death. New Jersey strict-liability law called for courts to consider the risks posed by a product, as well as the product’s utility. In answering interrogatories, Liggett stated that cigarettes had social utility because people enjoyed smoking. Liggett also sought to introduce evidence that the production of cigarettes had general economic benefits, such as the creation of jobs and payment of taxes. Antonio brought a motion in limine to exclude Liggett’s evidence of the economic benefits of cigarette production. Liggett argued that it should be permitted to produce evidence of every kind of social benefit arising from its product.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Sarokin, J.)
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