A person spends a decent chunk of their life working, not because they’d like to, but because they have to. It’s the employer’s responsibility to provide a safe working environment for their employees. But a major portion of employers fail at this.
Toxic exposure is, sadly, a common occurrence in the construction and automotive industries. One such material that has life-threatening consequences when exposed to it is asbestos. Mesothelioma is often a by-product of asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma, a type of cancer that affects the tissue covering the internal organs, is often deadly.
Victims or those whose loved ones are diagnosed with mesothelioma should approach reputable law firms like Vogelzang Law. They provide the assistance required to prove the victim’s condition and get the compensation they deserve.
This article is for those who’re skeptical about seeking legal assistance. We have listed 5 instances where victims or their loved ones received massive payouts as compensation. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you will be encouraged to pursue the at-fault parties legally.
$250 Million
Robb Whittington, a 70-year-old steel worker, was diagnosed with mesothelioma. He said the cancer was, which was terminal, due to the asbestos exposure he experienced during his time at the Gary Works plant in Gary, Indiana. His employer, U.S. Steel Corp., apparently used fire retardant in its insulation, leading to the exposure.
The Madison County judge ordered U.S. Steel Corp., the largest producer of raw steel in North America, to pay $50 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages, for a total of $250 million in compensation.
$117 Million
Stephen Lanzo, a resident of New Jersey, filed a case against Johnson & Johnson and Imerys Talc America, Inc. He claimed that he was exposed to asbestos after regularly using J&J talc powder as a child and inhaling the dust that arose when using it. This regular asbestos exposure developed into mesothelioma.
The New Brunswick jurors awarded Lanzo compensation of $117 million. Lanzo received $80 million in punitive damages, while his wife received $37 million in compensatory damages.
$75 Million
A New York County Supreme Court awarded Ed and Marlena’s Robaey compensation of $75 million after Marlena developed mesothelioma. Ed, a former drag racer, worked as a maintenance mechanic. He was reportedly exposed to asbestos when replacing worn gaskets in engines.
The asbestos from the gaskets clung on to Ed’s clothes, exposing Marlena to asbestos as he returned home. The defendants, Dana Companies, LLC and Fel-Pro, argued that the asbestos from the gasket didn’t have a role in Marlena’s cancer. The argument was rejected by the jury.
$70.8 Million
Robert Whalen is a former machinist and nuclear inspector in the US Navy. The 69-year-old resident of Ord, Nebraska, claimed that he was exposed to asbestos when he was working with asbestos-laden materials provided by John Crane Inc., a supplier to the US Military.
An Alameda County jury awarded Whalen and his wife a compensation of $70.861 million. The compensation was inclusive of economic and non-economic damages the couple suffered.
$25 Million
Albert D’Ulisse, a retired police officer, was awarded $25 million as compensation for losing his right lung due to mesothelioma. He said that he was exposed to asbestos during his time as a brake specialist at Daimler-Chrysler, where the brakes were lined with asbestos.
Chrysler, the fifth-largest automaker in the world, had won 14 asbestos cases in a row until this one.
Final Thoughts
Asbestos exposure is a serious concern. Victims often have to live with the consequences forever. This is why you need an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. They will make the best use of the evidence at hand and will do an excellent job of convincing the jury to get fair compensation.
