No. 26-235
 
Title: Philip Morris USA Inc., Petitioner
v.
Armand Fontaine, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Estate of Barbara Ellen Fontaine
Docketed: August 24, 2026
Linked with: 25A1451
Lower Ct: Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts
   Case Numbers: (SJC-13778)
   Decision Date: April 22, 2026
 
Proceedings and Orders
Jun 24 2026 Application (25A1451) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from July 21, 2026 to August 20, 2026, submitted to Justice Jackson.
Main Document Lower Court Orders/Opinions Proof of Service
Jul 09 2026 Application (25A1451) granted by Justice Jackson extending the time to file until August 20, 2026.
Aug 20 2026 Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 23, 2026)
Petition Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Sep 04 2026 Brief amicus curiae of Washington Legal Foundation filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Sep 10 2026 Motion to extend the time to file a response from September 23, 2026 to October 23, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
Main Document
Sep 17 2026 Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including October 23, 2026. (30-day extension)
Sep 21 2026 Brief amicus curiae of Product Liability Advisory Council filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Sep 22 2026 Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Convenience Stores filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Sep 23 2026 Brief amicus curiae of Liggett Group LLC filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Sep 23 2026 Brief amici curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, et al. filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Sep 23 2026 Brief amicus curiae of Manhattan Institute filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Sep 23 2026 Brief amicus curiae of Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel filed.
Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count
Sep 23 2026 Brief amici curiae of Nebraska, et al. filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Sep 23 2026 Brief amicus curiae of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Sep 23 2026 Brief amici curiae of Coalition of U.S. Manufacturing Companies filed.
Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service
Attorneys
Attorneys for Petitioner
Paul D. Clement
Counsel of Record
Clement & Murphy, PLLC
706 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

PAUL.CLEMENT@CLEMENTMURPHY.COM
Ph: (202) 742-8900
Party name: Philip Morris USA Inc.


Attorneys for Respondent
Celene Harrell Humphries
Counsel of Record
Celene Humphries PLLC
324 Drinkard Dr.
Spring City, TN 37381

chumphries@appellategroup.com
Ph: (813) 223-4300
Party name: Armand Fontaine, individually and as special personal representative of the Estate of Barbara Ellen Fontaine


Other Attorneys
Cory L. Andrews
Counsel of Record
Washington Legal Foundation
2009 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036

CANDREWS@WLF.ORG
Ph: 2025880302
Party name: Washington Legal Foundation


Cody Steven Barnett
Counsel of Record
Nebraska Department of Justice
1445 K Street
Room 2115
Lincoln, NE 68508

cody.barnett@nebraska.gov
Ph: (402) 471-2683
Party name: Nebraska and 6 Other States


William Peter Barnette
Counsel of Record
King & Spalding LLP
1180 Peachtree Street NE
Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30309

wbarnette@kslaw.com
Ph: (404) 572-4600
Party name: National Association of Convenience Stores


Lawrence S. Ebner
Counsel of Record
Capital Appellate Advocacy PLLC
1701 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006

LAWRENCE.EBNER@CAPITALAPPELLATE.COM
Ph: 202-872-0011
Party name: The Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel


Mark Christopher Fleming
Counsel of Record
WilmerHale
60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109

MARK.FLEMING@WILMERHALE.COM
Ph: (617) 526-6909
Party name: Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America and American Tort Reform Association


Noel John Francisco
Counsel of Record
Jones Day
51 Louisiana Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001

NJFRANCISCO@JONESDAY.COM
Ph: (202) 879-3939
Party name: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company


Adam S. Lurie
Counsel of Record
Linklaters, LLP
1290 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10104

adam.lurie@linklaters.com
Ph: (212) 903-9312
Party name: Coalition of U.S. Manufacturing Companies


Mark Andrew Perry
Counsel of Record
Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP
2001 M Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036

MARK.PERRY@WEIL.COM
Ph: 202-682-7000
Party name: Manhattan Institute


Andrew Tauber
Counsel of Record
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
1155 F St NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20008

andrew.tauber@bclplaw.com
Ph: 202-508-6111
Party name: The Product Liability Advisory Council


Daniel H. Weiner
Counsel of Record
Hughes Hubbard & Reed
One Batery Park Plaza
New York, NY 10004

daniel.weiner@hugheshubbard.com
Ph: (212) 837-6874
Party name: Liggett Group LLC