Use of the “N-word” by a witness caused a mistrial in a closely-watched Florida tobacco lawsuit.
A Broward County judge declared the mistrial Thursday after an expert used the racial epithet in explaining how he did research into the role of racism in the tobacco industry. The judge said the reference might have an impact on three African-Americans jurors.
The case was brought by Elaine Hess, the widow of a smoker who died from lung cancer in 1997. It’s the first of about 8,000 such cases to go to trial since the Florida Supreme Court threw out a $145 billion punitive damage award against cigarette makers. The court said the cases had to be brought individually against tobacco companies.
A new trial is likely to begin in January.
AP
