Articles Posted in

For purposes of this article, the mesothelioma victim in this case will be referred to as J.K.

In a recent court case, a Virginia jury awarded $3.45 million to the family of a deceased mesothelioma victim in a case against John Crane, Inc., a company known for manufacturing asbestos-contaminated products. The victim in this case, who will be referred to as J.K., died of malignant mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer that is primarily caused by asbestos exposure in 2022. After his death, J.K.’s family filed a lawsuit against John Crane, Inc., alleging that J.K.’s occupational asbestos exposure occurred while he was working with asbestos-containing products made by the company. Recently, a jury hearing the case ruled in favor of J.K.’s family and held John Crane, Inc. responsible for its failure to adequately warn about the dangers of its products.

During the trial, jury members listened to details about J.K.’s career as a millwright. For around 18 years (between 1961 and 1979), J.K. was a millwright at a plant in Chesterfield County. While there, his responsibilities included repairing and maintaining equipment such as valves and pumps. Unfortunately, when carrying out his tasks, he unknowingly inhaled microscopic asbestos fibers, putting himself at risk of developing mesothelioma. The jury heard evidence that over time, the wear and tear of the parts that J.K. repaired and maintained caused asbestos fibers to break free, contaminating the air in the workplace.

Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive form of cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure. The prognosis of this illness is often poor. Many times, mesothelioma symptoms appear years after initial exposure. Because of this, mesothelioma is often diagnosed when it has advanced to later stages. Sadly, this means that many people die due to mesothelioma every year, leaving families devastated and facing significant financial burdens. However, for some families, it may be possible to file a wrongful death claim and seek compensation. A common question that families ask is, “What is the average wrongful death settlement for mesothelioma?”

What is Wrongful Death?

Not all families who lose their loved one due to mesothelioma can file a wrongful death claim and seek compensation. Only those whose loved one’s death was caused by another party’s negligence or misconduct are eligible to file a wrongful death claim. Often, wrongful death claims arise because companies failed to warn workers or consumers about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Manufacturers and contractors who fail to warn or protect people from the risks of asbestos exposure can also be held liable in wrongful death claims. Spouses, children, parents, other dependents, or the representative of a mesothelioma victim’s estate can file a wrongful death claim and seek various types of damages.

Contact Information