Asbestos Company Ordered to Pay 15% of Mesothelioma Victim’s $18 Million Verdict
Asbestos has long been known as the primary cause of malignant mesothelioma, but that didn’t prevent brake grinder manufacturer Hennessy Industries from arguing in court that the toxic material in its products could not have caused a mesothelioma victim’s fatal disease. Despite those assertions, the jury assigned the company 15% responsibility for the $18 million it awarded to the victim.
Brake Grinder Company Argues Woman’s Mesothelioma Not Caused by Chrysotile Asbestos
The victim, Denise Cook, provided evidence during her personal injury lawsuit that she’d been exposed to chrysotile asbestos from the brakes her father had serviced through the years. It was explained to the jury that her illness had been caused by secondary asbestos exposure, describing how her father had unknowingly carried asbestos dust home on his clothing, skin, and hair, exposing her as she handled his laundry throughout her childhood.
In its presentation to the jury, the company claimed that chrysotile asbestos does not cause mesothelioma. Instead, they said, Ms. Cook’s illness could have stemmed from genetic or natural causes. The victim countered the company’s claim with expert testimony from an occupational medicine specialist who directly refuted the company’s position and confirmed the established link between chrysotile fibers and peritoneal mesothelioma.
Brake Grinder Only Defendant Remaining in Mesothelioma Lawsuit
Despite the brake grinding company’s assertions, the jury rejected its argument against liability for her mesothelioma, relying instead on the decades of scientific studies they had been presented with. After twelve days of testimony, the Fort Lauderdale jury awarded her $18 million, assigning 15% of the responsibility, or $2.7 million, to the manufacturer of the brake grinder her father had regularly used. The company was ordered to pay Ms. Cook $2.7 million.
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