By Jen Dlugosz on July 1, 2016
In the spring of 2016, there were several significant asbestos verdicts nationwide. Below is a brief summary of three of those verdicts:
Scott Shays v. A.O. Smith Water Products et al., Case No. 2015-0703, N.Y. Sup. Ct., Schenectady County: Plaintiff alleged that the decedent was exposed to asbestos as a machinist mate in the U.S. Navy and Vermont National Guard which caused him to develop mesothelioma. The decedent was 57-years old when he passed away. Plaintiff alleged that in those positions the decedent worked with gaskets, packing and insulation used in connection with defendant Jenkins Bros.’s valves. A jury awarded plaintiff $3.2 million, finding that defendant Jenkins Bros. was 50-percent liable.
Myra Williams v. Ingersoll-Rand, Case No. 76,787, Louisiana 10th Judicial District, Natchitoches Parish: Plaintiff alleged that the decedent was exposed to asbestos through fibers on her husband’s clothing and that she developed mesothelioma as a result. Plaintiff alleged that defendant provided compressors containing asbestos at plaintiff’s husband’s place of employment. A jury awarded $7 million to plaintiff, finding that defendant was 100-percent liable for plaintiff’s wrongful death claims and 50-percent liable for the survival claims.
Tyler et al. v. American Optical Corp. et al., Case No. BC588866, California Superior Court, Los Angeles County: Plaintiff alleged that he developed mesothelioma as a result of using the defendant’s allegedly defective respiratory equipment. Plaintiff alleged that he worked as a machinist and foreman from the 1970s to the 1990s and used defendant’s respiratory devices. Plaintiff was 62-years old when he developed mesothelioma. A jury awarded $32.8 million to plaintiffs, with $22.8 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages, apportioning 70-percent of the liability to defendant American Optical.