Mesothelioma Verdicts

Mesothelioma lawsuits represent one of the biggest mass torts in American legal history. Ever since the public became aware that the asbestos companies knew — but did nothing about — the danger that the material posed to employees and others exposed to it, mesothelioma attorneys have been successfully filing lawsuits seeking damages for those who have been harmed. A recent study indicated that when a mesothelioma or asbestos-related disease lawsuit is heard in court, the jury awards an average of $6 million. Though every case is different and verdicts are based on the specifics of both the wrongdoing and the damage suffered, it is important for mesothelioma victims to understand that filing a lawsuit can provide them and their families with substantial compensation.

Our mesothelioma attorneys and lawyers have earned a national reputation for their ability to prove that the asbestos companies were negligent. They get the maximum compensation possible to help pay for the medical expenses and costs of care for those who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, and to make certain that their families are financially secure, even in the face of tragedy. Contact us today to receive free information on the financial compensation available to you, or to set up an appointment to discuss your case.

There have been a number of notable verdicts handed down by juries in asbestos-related cases, and the awards have been increasing in recent years. Here are just a few of the highly-publicized verdicts that mesothelioma victims have received:

• A dry wall installer named Michael Sutherland who worked for the city of San Diego in the 1970s filed suit against the county of San Diego when he was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. The lawsuit presented the jury with information about the various asbestos-contaminated materials that he used, including compounds, drywall and caulk, and how he was constantly surrounded with the dust and asbestos fibers from his workplace. He and his wife Suszi were awarded $26.2 million.
• A former employee of Owens Corning named Deward Ballard who worked for the company in the 1960s and 1970s testified to a jury that he worked around asbestos nearly every day. Evidence was presented in his case showing that the company was well aware of the hazard that asbestos posed to Ballard and others, but took no action to protect or to warn of its dangers. Though the company defended itself aggressively and tried to have the case dismissed, the lawsuit ended with the jury assigning both compensatory damages and punitive damages in the amount of $31 million.
• A former Navy electrician named Alfred Todak filed a lawsuit against Foster Wheeler Corporation, the manufacturer, supplier and designer of insulation, gaskets and boilers that he used while serving in the Navy and working on sites including the Bethlehem Steel Mill and the Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company in Seattle, Washington. Todak was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma as a result of his constant exposure to asbestos. A jury awarded him damages of $33.7 million.
• Two different plaintiffs filed mesothelioma lawsuits against Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and won. The first, Eugene McCarthy, was a heavy smoker but the judge in the case ruled that it was not his smoking that caused his cancer but his exposure to excessive amounts of asbestos on the job. He was awarded $8.5 million in 2011. The same judge ruled similarly in the case of Walter Koczur, who received a $13 million jury verdict.
• A shipyard employee who worked at Newport News Shipbuilding for over 30 years filed suit against John Crane Inc., the company that provided asbestos-contaminated products to his employer over the years. John K. Bristow was a design engineer by the time he retired from the company and was 68 years old when he died of an asbestos-related disease. His survivors filed a wrongful death lawsuit and were awarded $9.8 million.
• In another case filed against Union Carbide, as well as several other companies, a former construction worker named Bobbi Izell was diagnosed with mesothelioma after having worked around asbestos throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Several companies were held liable for the damage that he suffered, but because Union Carbide was proven to have withheld information about asbestos dangers, they were assigned the greatest portion of the verdict, which was $48 million.

We are proud to have won sizable awards on behalf of our previous clients. Though no two cases are the same, the examples below are just some of the verdicts and settlements that we are proud to have been able to provide. The numbers shown reflect compensation after attorneys’ fees and expenses.

Financial Compensation Results

A Navy veteran who went on to a career as a building contractor was diagnosed with mesothelioma at the age of 67. His exposure to asbestos occurred both during his time of service and afterwards as well.

• Award: $3,205,170.00 The wife of a general contractor who was exposed to asbestos while accompanying her husband to various job sites and while washing his clothing.
• Award: $4,737,540.00 A 49-year old Navy veteran who was exposed to asbestos while working as a mechanic on ship overhauls.
• Award: $2,715,915.00 An 81-year old man who had worked for years in construction and as a mill-worker. His exposure to asbestos came from his work as a carpenter, handling sheet rock as well as working in production.
• Award: $2,144,750.00 A Navy machinists’ mate who went on to work as a telephone installer and repairman was diagnosed with mesothelioma when he was just 61 years old.
• Award: $2,376,440.00 A former oil field worker exposed to asbestos during drilling operations and while working on oil rigs.
• Award: $1,749,675.00

Get the Compensation You Deserve

We research every aspect of your history, including where you’ve worked, where you’ve lived, your medical reports and any other exposures to asbestos that you may have had throughout the years. We identify all the possibilities to ensure that you get everything you deserve from all the responsible parties. Call us today at and let us get started on getting you the compensation you deserve.