One of the largest food companies in the world must pay nearly $13 million to the family of an asbestos victim. The claim involved a “company town” owned by the food operation and a resident of the town. The residents’ family (plaintiffs) alleged in the claim that the company had negligently allowed their loved one to be exposed to asbestos for years while living in the town, eventually leading to his death. The resident lived in housing owned by the company as a child, just a few hundred yards from a sugar refinery, also owned by the company.
At trial, reported the Walnut Creek Patch, the plaintiffs presented evidence showing that food firm employees routinely worked with asbestos, without safety precautions, such that the refinery, the surrounding area, and the company homes were contaminated. The jury concluded that the company negligently exposed the deceased to asbestos and awarded his family $11,000,000 for non-economic damages and $1,958,461 for economic damages. The jury found that the food company was 100% at fault.
If you have been exposed to asbestos, contact your doctor immediately. Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma and this aggressive cancer can take between 20 and 50 years to develop between the time of first exposure to asbestos and diagnosis. Note that early detection could increase treatment options and survival, so even if you do not have any symptoms (cough, chest pain, shortness of breath) seeing your doctor is crucial.
Sources
Walnut Creek Patch. Patch Media, 18 Aug. 2017. Web. 22 Aug. 2017.
"What Are the Risk Factors for Malignant Mesothelioma?" American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society, Inc., 2017. Web. 20 Aug. 2017.
