Joanne Kotler, Individually and as Administratrix, Etc. v. The American Tobacco Company

SELYA, Circuit Judge.

This opinion promises to be the final trek in a long safari of a case. At journey’s end, we reaffirm our earlier judgment, see Kotler v. American Tobacco Co., 926 F.2d 1217 (1st Cir.1990) [Kotler III], and dismiss the vestiges of plaintiff’s two appeals.

I. BACKGROUND

Our prior opinion memorializes much of this case’s convoluted procedural history. See id. at 1219-20. We merely summarize and update here, highlighting the events that bear on the residuum of the litigation.

Plaintiff-appellant Joanne Kotler sued three cigarette manufacturers, American Tobacco Company (ATC),…