Jury Awards Largest Asbestos Verdict in History
In a promising move for all victims of asbestos-related injuries, a Mississippi jury recently awarded a 48-year-old man the single largest plaintiff’s asbestos verdict in history.
In a case against major industrial players Chevron Phillips Chemical and Union Carbide Corporation, Thomas Brown Jr. was awarded $322 for future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. Brown, who worked in the oil fields of Mississippi from the late 1970’s through the early 1980’s, inhaled asbestos dust while on the job. Doctors diagnosed Brown with asbestosis and he is currently on oxygen 24-hours a day.
The consequences of asbestosis are severe. The disease induces lung scarring and shortness of breath, which can worsen over time. Asbestos exposure can also lead to cancer and even death. CP Chemical and Union Carbide continued to market their products long after they knew of the dangers and put innocent workers at risk.
Chicago attorneys at Pintas & Mullins are encouraged by the jury’s verdict that could set the tone for future asbestos litigation. The decision puts the safety of workers ahead of company profits and holds two irresponsible companies accountable for the suffering that their defective products knowingly caused