South Carolina Lawyer Blog
A San Diego Navy Veteran who was diagnosed in 2010 with mesothelioma, an asbestos-caused cancer, was awarded $2.4 million in damages after his disease was found to be attributed to his work in ship boiler rooms.
The lawsuit, filed against John Crane, Inc., claimed the plaintiff was exposed to asbestos while serving in the Navy from 1961 to 1971 in his work in the maintenance and repair of boilers, pumps and valves. The suit claimed John Crane made some of the asbestos-containing packing material and gaskets in the equipment.
The total damages of about $2.4 million include nearly $1.4 million in noneconomic damages and $450,000 for loss of consortium. The jury found John Crane five percent liable, the Navy and insulation companies 57 percent at fault, some manufacturers and suppliers 37 percent at fault. The plaintiff himself was found to be one percent at fault.
The plaintiffs have settled with or dismissed 20 other parties named in the suit.
Mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases have been linked to the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers. This usually occurs by breathing air contaminated with microscopic asbestos fibers, often in workplaces where asbestos was manufactured or used as building material. If you or a loved one is suffering from an asbestos-related disease, contact the experienced attorneys today at the Louthian Law Firm at 1-866-454-1200 or online for a free evaluation of your case.