Canadian Asbestos Company Ordered to Pay $16 Million to Lung Cancer Victim’s Family
Families who lose loved ones to deadly asbestos-related illnesses, including pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma and several types of lung cancer, frequently seek justice through the legal system. In one recent case, a man’s adenocarcinoma was traced to his exposición al amianto supplied by a Canadian company that refused to participate in any of the court proceedings. As a result, the judge hearing the case ordered that they pay the family over $16 million in compensation.
Man’s Lung Cancer Blamed on Asbestos from Canadian Company
The case revolved around Steve Kotzerke, who died at the age of 67 after having been exposed to asbestos sold by Asbestos Corporation Ltd., a Canadian company. His survivors filed a claim in Washington’s state court, only to find that the defendant refused to participate in the proceedings. Despite having sold asbestos in the United States for decades and having been named in scores of mesothelioma and other demandas por amianto, the company has insisted that Canadian law precludes its compliance.
Failure to Comply With Court Order Leads to Multi-million-dollar Lung Cancer Damages Award
In response, Washington state Superior Court Judge Tateasha Davis first issued sanctions against the company for their refusal “to act in accordance with Washington state law and the court’s authority,” and then followed this decision by ruling that the company had violated the court’s orders. After daily monetary fines of $2,000 added up to $68,000, the court issued a default judgment for the family totalling almost $1.8 million in economic damages, $5 million for pain and suffering, $7.5 million for loss of consortium, and $1 million for each of his daughters.
Courts across the United States have consistently signaled that companies cannot avoid liability for asbestos exposure simply by refusing to participate in litigation or hiding behind foreign legal systems. This case reinforces an important legal principle: when a company profits from selling asbestos products in the U.S., it can be held accountable under U.S. law, regardless of where it is headquartered. For families affected by asbestos-related lung cancer or mesothelioma, this ruling demonstrates that courts are willing to impose severe financial penalties when defendants ignore court orders, fail to cooperate in discovery, or attempt to evade responsibility. The judgment also strengthens future claims involving adenocarcinoma and other asbestos-linked lung cancers, particularly in cases where exposure can be traced to known asbestos suppliers.
Paquete de compensación financiera GRATUITO
- Información sobre despachos de abogados que recuperarán su INDEMNIZACIÓN MÁS ALTA
- Aprenda cómo cobrar en 90 días
- Solicite su parte de $30 mil millones en fondos fiduciarios
