Uustal and his firm filed the first ever lawsuit against the tobacco companies in what is known as the Engle-progeny litigation. The Engle case itself was filed before the tobacco companies admitted that smoking was in any way harmful or addictive. The case on behalf of Cindy Naugle was tried twice and appealed five times. It was one of the most difficult and time-consuming cases ever against the tobacco industry, but in the end Uustal obtained a blockbuster verdict on behalf of Cindy Naugle, proving that the tobacco companies committed a fraud that directly harmed—and in the end killed—Cindy Naugle.