Judge Weinstein Declares Mistrial In Falise Tobacco-Asbestos Case

NEW YORK - In response to a note from the jury indicating they were deadlocked over the verdict and one member was threatening to kill another, U.S. District Judge Jack B. Weinstein declared a mistrial in a lawsuit brought against five Big Tobacco companies on behalf of smokers who were exposed to asbestos. Falise v. American Tobacco Co., et al., No. 99 cv 7392 (E.D.N.Y.).

'I have an obligation to jurors to protect them,' Judge Weinstein said, after he received the note on the jury's fifth day of deliberations.

That the first asbestos-contribution case against the tobacco industry to reach …