Declarations

Smoker Vindicated

“He was very proud that he had been there and had done what his mom wanted him to do.”

—Michael Weisman, an attorney for Willie Evans, who was awarded a $152 million judgment against cigarette-maker Lorillard Tobacco. Lorillard was found liable for the death of his mother, Marie, a Boston woman who began smoking in 1985, and died of lung cancer in 2002. The lawsuit claimed Marie Evans began smoking after Lorillard gave away free cigarette samples at the Boston housing project where she lived. The verdict includes $71 million in compensatory damages and $81 million in punitive damages. It’s believed to be among the largest-ever verdicts of its kind.

Christmas Miracle

“This is the recognition, compensation and health care they so richly deserved.”

—Andrew Carby, a lawyer for first responders injured in the aftermath of Sept. 11, commenting on the $4.2 billion aid package signed by Congress last month to benefit workers sickened or injured responding to the World Trade Center attack. The amount is $2 billion less than originally proposed. The package provides $1.5 billion to monitor the health of rescue and cleanup workers and treat illnesses related to ground zero hazards. It also reopens a victims’ compensation fund with $2.7 billion. The money adds to the $750 million legal settlement reached in November.

Safe Driving Program

“The main focus today is on texting while driving, but we canÕt forget about seat belts.”

—Bill Kolbenschlag, a communications associate with the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey, which has joined with the state to fund a program aimed at encouraging Garden State high school students to drive safely. The “U Got Brains Champion Schools Project” will give $1,000 to two schools to create their own initiative and compete against 17 others to win driving simulators. The project is named after a website created a few years ago — UGotBrains.com — that aims to teach young people about the importance of safe driving habits.