In 1995, Nix Patterson, along with four other law firms, was selected by the State of Texas to prosecute the State’s claims against the tobacco industry, seeking to recoup State monies paid to treat smoking-related illnesses. The tobacco industry came into the case with a perfect record in over 44 years of litigation, never losing a single time out of the more than 800 cases against it. That was before Big Tobacco came to Texas. The Texas Tobacco team combined their resources, career experiences and successes, and a relentless prosecution of this case on behalf of the State of Texas. The result—a settlement in excess of $17 billion. This settlement was not only one for the record books –the largest single civil litigation settlement in history at that time—but also proof that through hard work, perseverance, and sheer will a small group of lawyers can bring about social change against even the most powerful corporations.
Along with co-counsel firms, the State of Texas was represented in this historic litigation by NP partners Harold Nix, Cary Patterson, Michael Angelovich, Jeffrey Angelovich, Neil Smith, and Bradley Beckworth.