Marvin Allen Manious vs. RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company

Case Background

On March 15, 2022, Plaintiff  Marvin Allen Manious and Valerie Manious filed a Product Liability and tobacco lawsuit in the Circuit Court of State of Hawaii (Case number: 3CCV-22-72). Judge Robert Kim and Wendy DeWeese presided over this case.

Cause

Marvin Manious, a lifelong resident of Hawai’i, began smoking KOOL brand cigarettes as a teenager in 1978. He was influenced by aggressive and deceptive marketing campaigns by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Philip Morris USA, and Liggett Group LLC. These companies promoted their “light” and “low tar” cigarettes as safer alternatives, deliberately misleading consumers about the health risks associated with smoking. Marvin relied on these misrepresentations, believing the products to be less harmful.

Over nearly four decades, he purchased and consumed these cigarettes, primarily from retailers like Foodland, J. Hara, and Walmart in Hawai’i. The Defendants not only designed and manufactured harmful tobacco products but also targeted young consumers with advertising campaigns that fostered addiction. By the time Marvin quit smoking in 2015, years of exposure to carcinogens had caused irreversible damage, setting the stage for this tobacco lawsuit.

Injuries

Marvin’s prolonged use of cigarettes led to a devastating diagnosis of laryngeal cancer in September 2020. This life-threatening condition was directly linked to the carcinogens and addictive substances intentionally included in the Defendants’ products. The manufacturers deliberately enhanced nicotine’s addictive properties, ensuring Marvin remained a long-term consumer.

The cancer caused severe physical pain, difficulty breathing, and emotional distress, drastically reducing Marvin’s quality of life. Beyond the physical toll, the diagnosis left Marvin feeling betrayed, as he had trusted the Defendants’ claims about the safety of their products. This cancer-related product liability case highlighted the severe health consequences of harmful tobacco marketing practices.

Damages

The diagnosis of laryngeal cancer imposed significant financial and emotional burdens on Marvin and his spouse, Valerie Manious. Marvin underwent expensive medical treatments, including surgeries and radiation therapy, to combat the illness. The couple faced mounting medical bills, loss of income, and the strain of adapting to a life dominated by chronic health challenges.

Valerie experienced profound emotional suffering as she supported Marvin through his health crisis. She also endured a loss of consortium, as Marvin’s illness limited their ability to enjoy their shared life. This tobacco lawsuit sought compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and emotional distress while addressing the broader issue of accountability in the marketing of harmful products.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Marvin Allen Manious | Valerie Manious
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Phillip Holden | William Francis Brown | Nicholas Reyes | Xavier Navarro
  • Defendant(s): Philip Morris USA Inc. (Philip Morris) | RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company (Reynolds) | Liggett Group LLC (Liggett) | Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P. (Shook) | Covington & Burling L.L.P. (Covington) | Greenspoon Marder L.L.P. (Greenspoon) | Womble Bond Dickinson L.L.P. (Womble) | Foodland Super Market, Limited, d/b/a Foodland | Sack ‘N Save Foods, and Gas N Go (Foodland) | J. Hara Store, Inc., a Hawai‘i domestic corporation (J. Hara) | Walmart Inc., d/b/a Walmart
    • Counsel for Defendants: Thomas Benedict | Lyle Hosoda | Thurston A. Kino | Kourtney Hi’ilani Lai Mi Wong | Spencer J. Lau | Arthur F. Roeca | Jodie D. Roeca | Jeffrey H.K. Sia | Kelly Anne Luther | Maria Helena Ruiz | David M. Louie | Nicholas Ravindra Monlux | Lincoln S.T. Ashida | Annie Chuang | Michael Lawrence Walden | Thomas W. Stoever Jr. | Melvyn M. Miyagi | Ross Tatsuo Shinyama | Lisa M. Yang | Philip Robbins Green | Drew Thompson Bell | William Randall Bassett Jr. | Spencer Miles Diamond | Edmund K. Saffery | Deirdre Marie-Iha | Thomas J. Hughes

Claims

The Plaintiffs filed a product liability lawsuit against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Philip Morris USA, Liggett Group LLC, and retailers such as Foodland, J. Hara, and Walmart. They argued that the Defendants knowingly designed, manufactured, and marketed cigarettes containing harmful and addictive substances.

The Defendants misrepresented the safety of their products, claiming that “light” and “low tar” cigarettes reduced health risks. In reality, these products posed equal or greater harm. The companies failed to warn consumers of smoking’s dangers, despite decades of evidence linking their products to smoking-related cancer.

The tobacco lawsuit alleged negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation, and breach of warranty. Marvin and Valerie sought compensation for their losses and pursued punitive damages to hold the Defendants accountable for prioritizing profits over public health.

Defense

The Defendants, including R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Philip Morris USA, Liggett Group LLC, Foodland, J. Hara, and Walmart, denied liability in this tobacco lawsuit. They argued that Marvin knowingly assumed the risks of smoking, given widespread public awareness of its dangers. They claimed compliance with all federal and state regulations and insisted that their products included mandated warnings about health risks.

The cigarette manufacturers contended that their marketing campaigns followed legal standards. They argued that terms like “light” and “low tar” described product characteristics approved by regulators and did not imply reduced harm. The Defendants further asserted that Marvin’s cancer resulted from personal choices, genetic predispositions, or environmental factors, rather than their products

Through these defenses, the Defendants aimed to absolve themselves of liability and argued that the claimed damages were exaggerated or unrelated to their actions.

Jury Verdict

On December 12, 2024, the jury  found that R.J. Reynolds bore 75% of the responsibility for Marvin’s laryngeal cancer, while Marvin himself was 25% responsible. The jury concluded that Marvin successfully demonstrated Valerie’s loss of consortium, caused by R.J. Reynolds’ negligent design, fraud, or conspiracy.

The jury awarded $4 million in general damages to Marvin and $2 million to Valerie for her loss of consortium. Additionally, they found clear evidence that R.J. Reynolds acted willfully and with gross negligence. Consequently, the jury imposed $85 million in punitive damages, bringing the total award to $91 million in tobacco lawsuit.

Court Documents:

Documents Available for Purchase upon Request