An Arkansas federal jury recently handed down a substantial plaintiff’s verdict in an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit filed by the family of a man who worked at a brake shop in Little Rock during the 1970s. The lawsuit named Honeywell International Inc., which years ago bought Allied Signal, a company that had acquired Bendix, which was one of the principal manufacturers of brake-shoe linings in the country.
According to the lawsuit, filed in U.S. Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, the plaintiff developed mesothelioma in late 2017 from years of exposure to asbestos while working as an auto mechanic installing brake shoes. Court records show that the plaintiffs claimed the victim worked at Stuart’s Brake Shop in Little Rock and North Little Rock from 1971 until 1983, frequently performing up to one dozen brake jobs a day.
The plaintiff passed away a short time after his mesothelioma diagnosis, and his family has continued with the lawsuit on behalf of his estate along with the help of their mesothelioma lawyers. In ruling on behalf of the plaintiff, the jurors awarded the victim’s estate $216,000 for loss of life, $5 million for his pain and suffering and $341,979 for his medical expenses. The bulk of the recovery came from an additional $1 million the jury awarded to each of the victim’s children and additional $10 million in punitive damages.
Asbestos was once commonly used in a variety of industrial, mechanical, and commercial applications, including essential auto parts like brakes and engine gaskets, which need to be changed on a regular basis. As a result, tens of thousands of innocent people were unknowingly exposed to a dangerous carcinogen on a routine basis as part of a job they worked to provide for themselves and their families.
Exposure to asbestos is directly linked to developing mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of cancer that commonly forms tumors in the thin linings of tissue surrounding vital organs like the lungs, heart, and abdomen. Mesothelioma forms when victims inhale or otherwise ingest thin asbestos fibres, which then become lodged in the tissue linings. After exposure, the latency period for diagnosis can be anywhere from 20 to 50 years, which leaves patients with diminished treatment options to fight the disease.
In casesin which mesothelioma victims pass away before they can have their day in court and hold negligent parties accountable, the law gives family members the right to carry on claims on behalf of the deceased’s estate. By filing a mesothelioma cancer lawsuit, plaintiffs can recover compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering of living with the disease.
Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyer
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced nationwide mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.