Facing huge legal fees, Fla. ex-smoker drops lawsuit against Philip Morris during trial

Fla. ex-smoker drops lawsuit against Philip Morris

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A former Florida smoker who faced big legal fees if he lost has dropped his lawsuit against tobacco giant Philip Morris USA.

Jerome Cohen accepted a token $1,000 settlement Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale. Philip Morris says smokers risk having to pay the company’s legal fees if they reject a settlement and lose at trial.

Two Florida smokers recently had to pay the company $100,000 and $30,000 respectively.

Cohen attorney Philip Gerson says his client dropped the case mainly for health reasons. Cohen has lung cancer.

Thousands of Florida smokers and their families are suing tobacco companies. They are being tried individually after a $145 billion class-action tobacco damage award was voided by the state Supreme Court.

Philip Morris USA is a unit of Altria Group Inc.