Jury Rules Against Inmate Who Claimed Secondhand Smoke Caused His Cancer

A former inmate at Rikers Island, represented by his son at trial, has lost his lawsuit claiming secondhand smoke at the prison caused his bladder cancer.

Raymond Marquez claimed that a Department of Corrections policy allowing smoking in prison resulted in his cancer, the New York Times reports. A New York jury ruled against Marquez on Friday.

Marquez, believed to have been a leader in New York’s illegal numbers business, was fined $1 million after pleading guilty to illegal gambling charges in 1996, the story says. Years ago, the story says, Marquez “was something of a Harlem celebrity, touting flashy clothes, cars and jewelry.”

Marquez claimed he was exposed to other inmate’s smoke as he awaited trial on new gambling charges for which he was ultimately acquitted.

Marquez was represented by his son, lawyer David Marquez. Smoking is now banned in New York prisons.