S2 Ep6: How a Passion for Justice Leads the Fight in Tobacco Litigation: With D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD; and Alex Alvarez

How This Is Building Me, hosted by world-renowned oncologist D. Ross Camidge, MD, PhD, is a podcast focused on the highs and lows, ups and downs of all those involved with cancer, cancer medicine, and cancer science across the full spectrum of life’s experiences.

In this episode, Dr Camidge sat down with Alex Alvarez, a board-certified civil trial lawyer who specializes in tobacco litigation and jury selection. Camidge and Alvarez discussed Alvarez's career path, which he attributes to a deep-seated passion for upholding justice. Alvarez’s professional life began early, when he became one of the youngest police officers in Miami. After working in patrol during a period of significant civil unrest, he moved into the detective bureau, eventually joining the homicide division. There, he worked on high-profile investigations. During a federal trial for corrupt officers, Alvarez served as the lead investigator and sat at the counsel table, an experience that inspired him to become a trial lawyer.

Although Alvarez initially planned to be a prosecutor, a prominent trial lawyer convinced him to enter private practice, focusing on high-end products liability and medical negligence. Alvarez eventually founded his own firm and became a leading figure in tobacco litigation. His cases focus on corporate malfeasance, arguing that tobacco companies engineered cigarettes to be addictive. He also sues for fraud, citing the industry’s history of denying the health risks associated with cigarettes and the marketing flaws surrounding "safer" cigrette alternatives. A master of jury selection, Alvarez has tried several tobacco cases. He emphasized the importance of finding jurisdictions where jurors are less likely to blame the smoker and more likely to hold corporations accountable.

Alvarez's law firm is a family-run business involving his children and relatives. Today, Alvarez is shifting toward consulting and mentoring the next generation of lawyers to continue the fight against tobacco.