The Judge and The Historian

Ramses Delafontaine

Historians as Expert Witnesses Ramses Delafontaine

Robert Norrell

Robert Norrell

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Robert Norrell is a professor of history at the University of Tennessee. He has lectured in several American and European universities. In addition, he has published prize-winning books on the racial history of the American South.

Norrell has been an expert witness for the defence in 28 tobacco related court cases, especially in Engle Progeny cases. In a deposition taken in Karney v. Brown and Williamson in 1998 Norrell declared that he charged $100 an hour for his litigation-driven work.[1] Two years later that rate was still the same,[2] but by 2010 Norrell’s hourly rate had changed to $225,[3] and two years later to $250.[4] Norrell acknowledged in testimony given in Engle Progeny that he has charged tobacco companies for one million dollars, or $55,000 yearly during the period 1994-2012.[5]

 

[1] See deposition of Robert Norrell, December 9, 1998, Karney v. Brown and Williamson. Westlaw reference: 1998 WL 35271781.

[2] See deposition of Robert Norrell, August 17, 2000, Seaborn v. R.J. Reynolds. Westlaw reference: 2000 WL 35651535.

[3] See deposition of Robert Norrell, July 28, 2010, Piendle v. R.J. Reynolds. Westlaw reference: 2010 WL 6568264.

[4] See affidavit of Robert Norrell, April 17, 2012, Hill v. R.J. Reynolds. Westlaw reference: 2012 WL 4062302.

[5] See deposition of Robert Norrell, June 7, 2012, Narushka v. R.J. Reynolds. Westlaw reference: 2012 WL 3450341.