Is Tobacco Industry Responsible for Tony Gwynn’s Death?

The family of baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the tobacco industry, claiming their aggressive marketing campaigns in the 1970s targeted athletes and African Americans.

Gwynn passed away in 2014 at the age of 54 from salivary gland cancer. He had used smokeless tobacco for 31 years.

The lawsuit alleges the tobacco industry specifically targeted young African-American men. It specifically mentions the “Project Apollo” campaign, which distributed free tobacco samples in places with high African-American populations, without disclosing information about its the harmful effects.

According to the family’s attorneys, Gwynn began using smokeless tobacco after receiving free samples as a student athlete at San Diego State University. Once Gwynn became addicted, he would go through one to two tins of Skoal dipping tobacco on a daily basis. The lawsuit specifically name Altria Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries as defendants.

Last month, a smoker who developed cancer won the first individual product liability lawsuit against a tobacco company when she sued R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

“We’re seeing more and more lawsuits filed against big tobacco companies as people realize the part these companies played by covering up tobacco’s harmful effects,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

 

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.

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