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Asbestos has long been linked to the rare and incurable cancer called Mesothelioma. Many lawsuits have been filed by those who have contracted the disease as well as the family members of people who have died of the disease. In many cases, these family members receive monetary awards.
The surviving spouse and children of a worker who died of mesothelioma have been awarded $17 million by an Arizona jury.
George Coulbourn filed a product liability lawsuit in Mohave County Superior Court in December 2012. In the lawsuit, Coulbourn alleged that he was exposed to asbestos while working as a machinist for the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Virginia from 1956 to 1966.
After Coulbourn’s death from the disease in 2013, his spouse and children amended the claim and brought a wrongful death action.
After a three-week trial, a U.S. District Court of Arizona federal jury awarded Sandra Brown Coulbourn, his widow, $6 million. $1 million each was awarded to each of his three children.
There were more than 20 defendants named in the lawsuit, among them Stamford, Connecticut-based company Crane Co., which was ordered to pay $5 million in punitive damages. Another company, Cincinnati, Ohio-based William Powell Company, was ordered to pay $3 million in punitive damages.
The jury found, in addition to the $17 million dollar award, that the U.S. Navy was 47% responsible for Mr. Coulbourn’s injuries and death. Crane and William Powell were found to be responsible for 20% and 5% respectively. The other companies named in the lawsuit were found to hold either 1% or 0% responsible.
If you or a family member has contracted mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the law offices of John Foy & Associates. The “Strong Arm” attorney will help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today.
