A jury in Savannah, Georgia recently awarded $2 million to the wife of a man who died of mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure. The victim spent years working in a pulp paper mill in Alabama, where the plaintiff’s attorney alleged he was exposed to asbestos contaminated asbestos gaskets and packing material manufactured by John Crane.
During trial, the plaintiff’s lawyer explained to jurors that the defendant had been sued multiple times for asbestos-related injuries but never tested its products to determine if they were safe. Instead, the defendant allegedly relied on junk science produced by a consulting firm and paid millions of dollars for the information.
Attorneys for the defense argued the plaintiff had not been exposed to asbestos in any of its products and further argued even if that had been the case the amount of asbestos exposure would have been too small to cause mesothelioma. Only one witness was called by defense during the 10-day trial while the plaintiff called multiple expert witnesses to testify as to the plaintiffs asbestos exposure.
Family of Asbestos Victim Finally Gets Justice
The $2 million award may finally have brought some closure to the legal journey faced by the deceased’s wife. The case originally began back in 2010 when the plaintiff filed suit against 32 defendants believed to have played a hand in the victim’s asbestos-related cancer.
The victim succumbed to his asbestos induced mesothelioma in 2012, leaving his wife and attorney to carry on the struggle for justice. Between the filing of the lawsuit and the first trial, 21 of the original 32 defendants were dismissed from the suit, leaving a handful of defendants to seek damages from.
During a 2013, jurors found John Crane liable for the victim’s asbestos related cancer but declined to award any damages. Two other defendants named in that trial settled the case and one was found not liable for damages.
During the June 2016 trial, jurors found the defendant to be 40.5% at fault for the victim’s injuries and apportioned $2 million of their $5 million total award to the defendant. Seven other defendants were also allowed to be named as parties to the suit and the remaining $3 million will be apportioned equally among them to be paid to the plaintiff’s estate.
Nationwide Asbestos Lawyer
If you worked in an industrial job and were diagnosed with mesothelioma, it could be because you were exposed to asbestos while on the job. Mesothelioma victims may be able to recover necessary compensation for medical bills and other damages by holding their employer or other responsible for their asbestos exposure.
For a free consultation about your case, contact our office. Our mesothelioma attorneys have years of experience recovering compensation and obtaining justice for our clients. Do not be intimidated by powerful asbestos companies and their defense attorneys, our lawyers will fight hard to get your and your family the compensation you deserve.