Victims of asbestos exposure awarded $25 million

The families of two men were likely quite relieved with a recent verdict announced by a state Supreme Court jury recently. After four weeks of hearing testimony and deliberating for two days, the jury determined that the two men who had worked with asbestos-containing products would receive a total of $25 million for the past and future pain and suffering of the two men who had developed mesothelioma.

The defendant in this case is Crane Company, which manufactured and sold valves and other products that contained asbestos. Initially, there were 20-30 other defendants named in the men’s lawsuits, but, as is often the case, the majority of them settled their case with the families before the trial. The sums of those settlements will be deducted from the $25 million award and Crane may be liable for paying whatever the remaining amount is.

It is very common for there to be multiple parties named in an asbestos-related lawsuit like this. People who have developed mesothelioma, asbestosis or other similar illnesses have typically been exposed to asbestos over the course of many years and from many different sources.

Working with an attorney can help victims and their families identify every potential source of exposure. Each party that manufactured, sold, distributed or used asbestos-containing products that a person came into contact with could be named in a lawsuit if they failed to notify others of the presence or dangers of asbestos.

It can certainly seem like an overwhelming endeavor to track down the source of exposure and then take legal action against each alleged offender. However, that is why so many victims work with an attorney experienced in asbestos litigation. It can be a complicated and sometimes lengthy process, but successful claims can provide victims and families with the compensation and legal accountability they deserve.

Source: Washington Examiner,N.Y. jury awards two plaintiffs $25M in asbestos trial,” June 24, 2014