Mesothelioma Blog

  • Question of Law Decided in Mesothelioma Widow’s Favor

    Before Arnold Pritt’s death, he and his wife initiated legal action against the companies they blamed for his illness, and after he died Ruth Pritt filed to amend the original claim to one for wrongful death and to add a claim of punitive damages. Defendant John Crane filed an objection, arguing that the compensation she …Read More

  • Judge Calls Request for Mesothelioma Tissue Sample “Egregious”

    It is not uncommon for a defendant in a malignant mesothelioma to request biological samples from a victim, but those requests are generally made in a timely way, and in a way that is respectful of the victim’s health and wellbeing. By contrast, a recent request by Mercedes Benz was so far beyond either timely …Read More

  • ExxonMobil Loses Final Appeal of Mesothelioma Claim

    The road to justice can be long and tortuous for mesothelioma victims and their families, but for many, victory eventually comes. Warren Wright’s family lost him to the rare, asbestos-related disease in 2015, and it took until this past summer for their legal case against ExxonMobil to finally come to an end. ExxonMobil Filed Multiple …Read More

  • New Law Helps Illinois Mesothelioma Victims’ Survivors

    Punitive damages are frequently assessed against companies judged liable for an individual’s mesothelioma. Different from economic or compensatory damages, punitive damages are specifically meant to punish those responsible for actions – or inactions – that are deemed to be malicious. Examples include situations where companies knew of asbestos’ dangers and have extended protections from it …Read More

  • Mesothelioma Victims Encouraged as Judge Rejects J&J Bankruptcy Again

    Tens of thousands of mesothelioma and ovarian victims have been watching and waiting as a New Jersey bankruptcy judge considered a second bankruptcy filing from consumer giant Johnson & Johnson. The victims, who blame the company for negligently exposing them to asbestos-contaminated talc in their iconic baby powder product, learned late last summer that the …Read More

  • New York Mesothelioma Claim to Include Punitive Damages

    When a mesothelioma lawsuit seeks both compensatory damages and punitive damages, the plaintiff is asserting that the defendant’s actions went beyond negligence to the point of being malicious or egregious and that they demand separate, additional punishment. That is exactly what the family of the late Michael F. Brady is seeking and was granted by …Read More

  • Mesothelioma Victim’s Family’s Appeal Leads to Earlier Ruling Being Overturned

    Those pursuing justice for mesothelioma victims should be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster, as the legal process will present both wins and losses along the way. Though the family of Joan Smith was disappointed by a lower court decision in her second-hand asbestos exposure claim, the Court of Appeal of Florida recently reversed that decision, …Read More

  • Mesothelioma Claim Points to New York Power Company’s Negligence

    When Alvin Smith died of malignant mesothelioma, the former electrician’s family filed claims against numerous defendants that they blamed for exposing him to asbestos. Though many years have gone by, those claims are continuing to be heard. Most recently, the Long Island Power Authority argued against having to defend themselves because they said they were …Read More

  • Strength of Mesothelioma Victim’s Testimony Defeats Asbestos Company’s Arguments

    It has been well established that exposure to asbestos causes malignant mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of cancer that often claims its victims’ lives within months of diagnosis. But despite this and strong evidence to the contrary, asbestos companies exert tremendous effort to argue against their role in mesothelioma victims’ illnesses. In a recent …Read More

  • Advance Auto Parts Named in Mechanic’s Mesothelioma Claim

    When Joseph Munna was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, the former auto mechanic filed suit against those companies he blamed for exposing him to asbestos. Included in that list was Advance Auto, which he blames for selling him parts that were contaminated with asbestos. Though the company asked for the case against them dismissed, a New …Read More

  • Woman’s Mesothelioma Blamed on Asbestos in Bowling Accessory

    A California court has denied a bowling accessory company’s attempt to evade responsibility for a woman’s mesothelioma. Though Master Industries Worldwide argued that they weren’t a legal entity in the years that Debra Manns had been exposed to asbestos in their product, the victim’s family pointed to the company’s advertising to convince the court otherwise. …Read More

  • “Passion or Prejudice” Question Raised by Asbestos Company After $20 Million Mesothelioma Award

    Patricia Casey was awarded $20 million in punitive damages following the mesothelioma death of her husband John. The significant award came after the initial jury hearing the case could not decide on appropriate compensation.  The defendant, Kaiser Gypsum, filed an appeal of the decision, arguing that the large award was a result of either passion …Read More

  • Citing Lung Cancer Victim’s Extensive Testimony, Judge Denies Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit

    Christopher Yohe was diagnosed with asbestos-related lung cancer at the age of 64. He and his wife filed personal injury lawsuits against many of the companies whose asbestos-contaminated products he was exposed to during his years working as a plumber.  Though water heater manufacturer Bradford White asked the court to dismiss them from the suit, …Read More

  • Asbestos Hidden in Printing Press Blamed for Man’s Malignant Mesothelioma

    A jury will decide whether Jean Castagna’s death from malignant mesothelioma was caused by asbestos in the printing press that he worked with for years. Though the equipment manufacturer asked for the case against them to be dismissed, a New York judge ruled that there were too many questions of fact to be decided for …Read More

  • Mesothelioma Death Leads to $107 Million Jury Award

    After a two-phase trial, a twelve-person California jury awarded the family of a 46-year-old janitor who died of malignant pleural mesothelioma a remarkable $107 million in compensatory and punitive damages. The defendants in the case were Union Carbide Corporation, E.F. Brady Co., Inc., and Elementis Chemicals. On-the-Job Asbestos Exposure Blamed for Janitor’s Malignant Mesothelioma The …Read More

  • Despite Caterpillar’s Objections, Court Allows $4.5 Million Mesothelioma Verdict to Stand

    The family of Navy veteran Edwin Estenson was devastated by his mesothelioma diagnosis and death and was intent on getting justice from the companies that had exposed him to asbestos and caused him so much suffering. While every other company they filed suit against agreed to settle out of court, Caterpillar Inc. insisted on having …Read More

  • After Losing Both Parents to Asbestos, Daughters Win Mesothelioma Lawsuit

    Melissa Ann Bobo and Shannon Jean Cox lost their mother to malignant mesothelioma sixteen years to the day after their father died of a heart attack following years of battling asbestos-induced lung cancer. The women stepped in as plaintiffs in the personal injury claim their mother filed before her death and were awarded over $3 …Read More

  • Jury Awards Mesothelioma Victim $32 Million

    When William Tyler worked in an asbestos-contaminated foundry, he relied on his respirator to protect him from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Unfortunately, the respirator did not do what it claimed that it would, and he and his wife filed a lawsuit against its manufacturer, who they accused of knowing of its inadequacy. After a …Read More

  • Expert Witness Testimony Proves Invaluable to Mesothelioma Victim’s Case

    It can be a challenge to prove a mesothelioma lawsuit. The asbestos exposure blamed for causing the deadly illness generally occurred decades earlier: memories fade, and physical proof is rarely available. Because of this, plaintiffs rely on testimony from expert witnesses, which often makes the difference. Navy Veteran Blames Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma on Shipboard Products …Read More

  • Navy Veteran’s Widow Granted Right to Have her Mesothelioma Lawsuit Heard

    Following the mesothelioma death of her Navy veteran husband, Linda Cook filed a negligence lawsuit that accused several companies of having negligently exposed him to asbestos. Despite three of those companies seeking summary judgment of the cases against them, a Massachusetts court determined that their arguments for dismissal fell short and that the claims against …Read More