Florida state legislators on the House Civil Justice Subcommittee failed to take up a bill that would set a cap on damage awards against tobacco companies in Engle progeny lawsuits, theTampa Bay Times said.

Although HB 1067 could have been discussed, the panel instead adjourned early, the newspaper said. The subcommittee has one more chance to take up the bill, at its next meeting in two weeks, however doubts have surfaced whether there are enough votes to pass the bill, the Times said.
About 4,500 cases in which tobacco companies were sued under provisions of a 2006 state Supreme Court ruling would have caps placed on potential damages from cigarette makers. The ruling tossed out a class action suit filed on behalf of deceased physician Howard Engle, but allowed plaintiffs in that suit to file individual claims.
In February Philip Morris USA, RJ Reynolds Tobacco and Lorillard settled nearly all Engle progeny suits pending in federal courts in Florida for USD 100 million (EUR 91.4 million).