Jury Finds Philip Morris USA Not Responsible for Flight Attendant Medical Condition

Today, a Dade County Circuit Court jury returned a unanimous verdict in favor of Philip Morris USA and other cigarette manufacturers, finding that they are not responsible for the injuries a flight attendant claims were caused by her exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) while employed as a flight attendant.

Lorraine Swaty, a 58-year-old flight attendant for US Airways, claimed her chronic sinusitis was caused by ETS exposure during her career as a flight attendant.

Ms. Swaty flew domestic flights where smoking was allowed from 1965 up until 1988 when Congress banned smoking on all domestic flights two hours or less. She was not diagnosed with chronic sinusitis until 1994, six years after the ban.

"The jury decided this case on the facts, and the facts simply did not entitle the plaintiff to recover damages," said William S. Ohlemeyer, Philip Morris USA vice president and associate general counsel.

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