Man awarded $6 million in product liability lawsuit

It is very common for there to be multiple parties named in a lawsuit stemming from asbestos exposure. This is because there are often several companies and individuals involved in the manufacturing, distribution, sales and use of asbestos that can all be held accountable if they engage in negligent behavior.

However, not all parties named in a lawsuit will ultimately be found to be liable if a particular product contained asbestos and was dangerous or defective. But it is important to understand that this does not mean all will be lost.

Recently, for example, a jury awarded a man $6 million for the damages suffered in relation to his diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. Originally, there were more than a dozen parties included in the man’s lawsuit, which claimed that he was exposed to asbestos at his workplace for several years.

However, a jury determined that only two of the parties named in the lawsuit should be held liable for the man’s illness. The other parties were dismissed or found not liable.

This case is a fairly common representation of what happens in asbestos claims. There may be several parties named in a lawsuit, but only one or a few of them may ultimately be held accountable for negligence. It is not necessarily an all-or-nothing situation where all the parties are either determined to be negligent or not.

Because of how many people can be involved and the number of different outcomes that can be possible, victims and their families can easily get overwhelmed with asbestos litigation. However, those who work with an attorney find that they are able to leave the legal challenges and procedures up to someone who is familiar with the litigation process and asbestos claims. This can make it easier for people to cope with a serious illness and focus on their health and spending meaningful time with loved ones.

Source: Tulsa World, “Jury awards Moore man $6 million in asbestos lawsuit,” Richard Mize, June 12, 2015