A New York state jury recently handed down a substantial $7 million verdict in an asbestos cancer lawsuit filed by a former Georgia police officer against a previous employer he worked for in Western New York during the 1970s. According to reports, the award represents one of the largest verdicts in a mesothelioma cancer lawsuit in that particular part of the state with jurors finding the defendant, Jenkins Bros., guilty of negligence.
According to the asbestos cancer lawsuit, filed in Supreme Court of he State of New York, County of Erie, the plaintiff, now living in Atlanta, Georgia as a retired police officer, worked for NY Wire Mills using equipment made by Jenkins Bros. The lawsuit claimed the electrical gaskets made by Jenkins Bros. were manufactured with asbestos and other harmful substances the company knew could cause serious health problems but did not provide any warnings.
By the time the plaintiff started working with the asbestos-laden products manufactured by Jenkins Bros., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had already issued orders about the dangers of asbestos. Unfortunately for the plaintiff, the defendant did nothing to warn him or others that the electrical gaskets contained the deadly asbestos, which caused the victim’s mesothelioma cancer diagnosis.
Asbestos was once commonly used in a variety of industrial applications because of the mineral’s heat resistant properties and ability to be molded into almost any form. Even after the EPA effectively banned the use of asbestos in the mid 1970s, workers continued to develop serious health problems related to the mineral due to the long latency periods associated with asbestos cancers like mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly form of cancer directly linked with asbestos exposure. The disease usually affects the thin linings of tissue surrounding vital organs like the heart, lungs, and abdomen. Patients often do not receive their mesothelioma cancer diagnosis until 20 to 50 years after exposure, which can severely limit the individual’s treatment options. Even though researchers around the world work tirelessly to find a cure, none yet exists.
Although nothing can undo the harm caused by an asbestos cancer diagnosis, victims and their families can hold asbestos companies responsible for creating deadly products by filing mesothelioma cancer lawsuits. An asbestos claim can also recover lost wages, compensation for past and future medical bills, and damages for the pain and suffering of living with the disease. In cases in which victims have passed away from mesothelioma, surviving family members can carry on the claim to help ensure justice is served against the negligent asbestos companies.
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.