A family from California recently received a multi-million-dollar settlement for a mesothelioma lawsuit against an asbestos manufacturer. The case was filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2018 and was settled in April 2021.
The family’s father, James Smith, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2018. Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by asbestos exposure and is a life-threatening disease. Smith had worked for decades as a pipefitter and welder, occupations which put him at risk of asbestos exposure.
Smith’s family sued the asbestos manufacturer, alleging that the company had failed to provide adequate warnings about the risks of asbestos exposure. The family argued that Smith’s mesothelioma was caused by the manufacturer’s negligence and that they should be held financially responsible.
The jury agreed with the family and found the asbestos manufacturer liable for Smith’s mesothelioma. They awarded the family $9.2 million in damages. The award includes $1.5 million for medical costs, $3 million for pain and suffering, and $4.7 million in punitive damages.
The judge also ordered the asbestos manufacturer to pay the family $50 million in punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded in cases where a company’s conduct is deemed especially egregious and the court wishes to punish them and discourage similar behavior in the future.
The family’s attorney, Elizabeth A. Troy, called the verdict a “huge victory for victims of asbestos exposure and their families.” She added that the case was “a reminder that asbestos manufacturers must be held accountable for their actions.”
The Smith family’s case serves as an important reminder of the dangers of asbestos exposure and the need for companies to take steps to protect their employees from this hazardous material. Sadly, mesothelioma is still a risk for many workers in the United States today. The Smith family’s victory serves as a reminder that asbestos manufacturers must be held accountable for their negligence.