Cases In 2005

Asbestos Cases in 2005

Below are summaries of our trials from 2005.

SF Jury Finds Chrysotile Asbestos Causes Rare Peritoneal Mesothelioma

A jury awarded over $1.9 million to a 71–year–old retired sheet metal worker, Genaro Garcia, who developed peritoneal mesothelioma from his prior on–the–job exposure to asbestos.

(Genaro Garcia and Delia Garcia v. Duro Dyne Corporation and Holmes & Narver, Inc. , 2005, Case No. 418098, San Francisco Superior Court)

Jury Awards $2.8 Million for Terminal Asbestosis

A San Francisco jury awarded Harold Phelps and his wife Neva $2.8 million in damages because of occupational exposure to asbestos.

(Harold Phelps v. Hamilton Materials, Inc., 2005, Case No. 433734, San Francisco Superior Court)

San Francisco Jury Delivers Verdict of $3.4 Million in Colon Cancer Asbestos Trial

A San Francisco jury delivered a plaintiff’s verdict of over $3.4 million for Ralph Pierce, a 70–year old retired machine operator and supervisor suffering from colon cancer from his on–the–job exposure to asbestos products.

(Ralph Pierce v. Certainteed Corporation, 2005, Case No. 408642, San Francisco Superior Court)

Orange County Jury Assesses $62,000 in Asbestosis Case

An Orange County jury assessed damages of $62,000 in favor of a retired pipefitter with asbestosis and pleural disease caused by his occupational exposure to asbestos.

(Ronald Kautz v. Advocate Mines, Ltd, 2005, Case No. 00CC14366, Orange County Superior Court)

Seattle Jury Delivers Plaintiff Verdict of $242,500 in Asbestosis Case

A Seattle jury awarded $242,500 to a paper mill worker suffering from asbestosis due to his exposure to asbestos in dryer felts.

(Ernest Coulter and Lerose Coulter v. ACandS, Inc. et al. , 2005, Case No. 01–2–34675–0SEA, King County Superior Court, WA)

San Francisco Jury Awards $8,673,704 in Mesothelioma Case

A San Francisco jury awarded $8,673,704.74 to a 60 year old former United States Navy machinist and engineering officer suffering from terminal pleural mesothelioma caused by his service–related exposure to asbestos.

(Anthony Cadlo and Maxlyn Cadlo v. John Crane Inc. and Metalclad Insulation Corp., 2005, Case No. 412325, San Francisco Superior Court)

San Francisco Jury Awards $1,250,000 in Asbestosis Case

A San Francisco jury unanimously awarded damages of $1,250,000 in favor of a retired pipefitter with asbestosis and pleural disease caused by his occupational exposure to asbestos.

(Geronia Quarles v. Advocate Mines, Ltd. , 2005, Case No.409170, San Francisco Superior Court)

Selected Verdicts: 2005

Alan Reinstein v. Kentile Floors Inc.; Bondex International Company
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: Los Angeles County, California
Judge: Hon. Ricardo A. Torres
Trial Type: Personal Injury-Product Liability-Negligence
Case Resolved After Verdict for Defendant Bondex: Excess of $900,000
December 2005 – January 2006

Genaro Garcia and Delia Garcia v. Duro Dyne Corporation and Holmes & Narver, Inc.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Paul Alvarado
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence
Verdict: $1,900,000
October – November 2005

Walter Cozad v. CertainTeed Corporation, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. James Robertson
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence
Case Resolved at Jury Selection: Excess of $400,000
September 2005

In re Group Thorpe Insulation Company Wrongful Death Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, and Other Cancer (Lead Case – Stanley Young, et al. v. Thorpe Insulation Company)
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. David Ballati
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, and Other Cancer
Case Resolved During Plaintiffs’ Case in Chief: Excess of $5 million
August 2005

Thomas McCollum v. Natkin & Co., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Tomar Mason
Trial Type: Negligence-Products Liability-Asbestosis
Case Resolved During Jury Hardships: Excess of $600,000
August 2005

In re Group Thorpe Insulation Company Living and Wrongful Death Asbestosis Cases (Diane Story, et al. v. Thorpe Insulation Company)
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. David Ballati
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Asbestosis
Case Resolved During Plaintiffs’ Case in Chief: Excess of $1 million
August 2005

John Surprenant v. 20th Century Fox Corporation, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: Los Angeles County, California
Judge: Hon. E. Chavez
Trial Type: Product Liability-Negligence-Mesothelioma-Wrongful Death
Case Resolved During Plaintiff’s Case in Chief: Excess of $2,500,000
August 2005

Shaheed Nuriddin v. Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Paul Alvarado
Trial Type: Product Liability-Negligence
Case Resolved After Opening Statement: Excess of $1,000,000
June 2005

Richard Gifford v. Hamilton Materials, Inc., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. James Robertson
Trial Type: Negligence-Products Liability-Lung Cancer
Case Resolved During Pre-Trial Motions: Excess of $700,000
June 2005

Warren Fisher v. D.B. Riley, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Thomas Mellon
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Mesothelioma
Case Resolved During Voir Dire: Excess of $2 million
June 2005

Daniel Griggs v. Dowman Products, Inc., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. James Robertson
Trial Type: Negligence-Products Liability-Lung Cancer
Case Resolved During Pre-Trial Motions: Excess of $200,000
June 2005

Ronald Kautz v. Advocate Mines, Ltd.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: Orange County, California
Judge: Hon. Kim Dunning
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Asbestosis
Verdict: $62,000
Resolved with Remaining Defendants: Excess of $50,000
April – May 2005

Ralph Pierce v. CertainTeed Corporation
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Mary Wiss
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence
Verdict: $3,461,333.29
April – May 2005

Ernest Coulter and Lerose Coulter v. ACandS, Inc., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: King County, Washington
Judge: Hon. Sharon Armstrong
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Living Asbestosis
Verdict: $242,500
March – April, 2005

Charles Scandlyn v. Metalclad Insulation Corporation, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Ernest Goldsmith
Trial Type: Negligence-Products Liability-Mesothelioma
Case Resolved During Pre-Trial Motions: Excess of $2 million
March 2005

Zeddie Masters v. Metalclad Insulation Corporation, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. James McBride
Trial Type: Negligence-Products Liability-Lung Cancer
Case Resolved During Pre-Trial Motions: Excess of $400,000
March 2005

Ronald Scrivner v. Supro Corporation
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Julie Tang
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Asbestosis
Case Resolved During Voir Dire: Excess of $90,000
March 2005

Patricia Moore v. Harley Davidson Corp, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: King County, Washington
Judge: Hon. Douglas North
Trial Type: Product Liability-Negligence-Mesothelioma-Wrongful Death
Case Resolved at Start of Pre-trial Motions: Excess of $1,000,000
March 2005

In Re Group 283 Asbestos Cases
Consolidated Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Kevin McCarthy
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence
Verdict: Cases Resolved Prior to Start of Motions in Limine: Excess of $250,000
March 2005

Tommy Archibeque v. Rockwell Automation Corporation
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: Los Angeles County, California
Judge: Hon. Mel Red Recana
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence
Case Resolved at the Start of Motions in Limine: Excess of $650,000
February 2005

Robert Botorff v. Asbestos Defendants BP, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: Los Angeles County, California
Judge: Hon. Alexandar Williams III
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence
Case Resolved at the Beginning of Jury Selection During Motions in Limine: Excess of $450,000
February 2005

Chester Harris v. Sequoia Ventures Inc. (FMA Bechtel Corporation), et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Charlene Mitchell
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence
Case Resolved After Jury Selection: Excess of $750,000
January – February 2005

David Dryden v. Volkswagen of America Company, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Alex Saldamondo
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence
Case Resolved After Opening Statements: Excess of $1,250,000
January 2005

Geronia Quarles v. Advocate Mines, Ltd.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Ellen Chaitin
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Asbestosis
Verdict: $1,250,000
Resolved with Remaining Defendants: Excess of $25,000
January 2005