Below are summaries of our trials from 2008.
Jury Awards $2.6 Million in Asbestos Lung Cancer Case to Family of Retired Local 396 Ironworker
A jury awarded $2,610,720 to the family of Douglas “Duke” Vanden Broek, a retired Local 378 ironworker, and was exposed to asbestos used by insulators at various locations. (Anne Vanden Broek, et al. v. Plant Insulation Company , 2008 Case No. 436690, San Francisco Superior Court)
San Francisco Jury finds Manufacturer Foster Wheeler LLC Negligent in Navy Veteran’s Development of Mesothelioma
A jury awarded $2,039,519 in total damages to the family of Calvin Oxford, a former Navy boiler tender that developed mesothelioma from asbestos exposure during his Navy service in the 1960s.
(Judy Oxford, et al vs. Foster Wheeler Corporation et al. , 2008 Case No. 440328, San Francisco Superior Court)
Selected Cases: 2008
Gerald and Pamela Rudy v. Amcord, Inc., Hamilton Materials, Inc., Dowman Products, Inc., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Curtis E.A. Karnow
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Personal Injury-Asbestosis
Case Resolved After Opening Statements: Excess of $450,000
December 2008
Robert Hilt, et al. v. Metalclad Insulation Company, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco, California
Judge: Hon. James J. McBride
Trial Type: Living Mesothelioma-Product Liability-Negligence. Retired Janitor/Marine Machinist-Hunters Point and Mare Island Naval Shipyards, US Mint.
Case Resolved at End of Plaintiff’s Case in Chief: Excess of $7.5 Million as to all Defendants
November – December 2008
Jesse McDonald v. Calportland Company, Highland Stucco and Lime Products, Inc., Thompson Building Materials, Inc., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Suzanne Ramos Bolanos
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Personal Injury-Lung Cancer
Case Resolved During Plaintiff’s Case in Chief: Excess of $575,000
November 2008
In re King County Group 4 v. American Optical Corporation, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: King County, Washington
Judge: Hon. Kallas Paris
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Personal Injury-Asbestosis
Case Resolved After Opening Statements: Excess of $280,000
November 2008
Marissa DuRette, et al. v. Dana Companies, LLC
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco, California
Judge: Hon. Tomar Mason
Trial Type: Wrongful Death-Lung Cancer/Mesothelioma-Negligence-Product Liability
Case Resolved After Opening Statements: Excess of $900,000 as to all Defendants
September 2008
Mary Marcelja, et al. v. Leslie Controls Company, Inc.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco, California
Judge: Hon. Tomar Mason
Trial Type: Wrongful Death-Lung Cancer-Negligence-Product Liability
Case Resolved After Selection of a Jury at Opening Statements: Excess of $750,000 as to all Defendants
September 2008
Anne Vanden Broek, et al. v. Plant Insulation Company
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco, California
Judge: Hon. James J. McBride
Trial Type: Wrongful Death-Lung Cancer-Negligence-Products Liability
Verdict: $2,610,720
August – September 2008
Dwayne Ratliff, et al. v. Foster Wheeler LLC, Plant Products & Supply Company, M. Slayen & Associates, Inc., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Ernest H. Goldsmith
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Wrongful Death-Mesothelioma
Case Resolved During Opening Statements: Excess of $1,150,000
August 2008
Louis Hofmeister, et al. v. Allis-Chalmers Corporation Product Liability Trust, J.T. Thorpe & Son, Inc., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Ernest H. Goldsmith
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Wrongful Death-Mesothelioma
Case Resolved During Motions In Limine: Excess of $1,500,000
August 2008
Theresa Ketchum, et al. v. Allis-Chalmers Corporation Product Liability Trust, Glen J. Harrod, Plant Insulation Company, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Ernest H. Goldsmith
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Wrongful Death-Mesothelioma
Case Resolved During Jury Selection: Excess of $5,400,000
August 2008
Kenneth Martin, et al. v. COE Manufacturing Company, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco, California
Judge: Hon. James J. McBride
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Peritoneal Mesothelioma Death
Case Resolved After Opening Statements: Excess of $750,000 as to all Defendants
August 2008
Richard and Betty Palmer v. Rockwell Automation Inc., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. James McBride
Trial Type: Product Liability-Negligence-Lung Cancer
Case Resolved During Plaintiffs’ Case in Chief: Excess of $1,000,000 as to all Defendants
July – August 2008
Margaret Zamberlin, et al. v. Eaton Electrical Inc., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Tomar Mason
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Wrongful Death-Lung Cancer
Case Resolved During Motions In Limine: Excess of $350,000
July 2008
James Baughman v. Bondex International, Inc., Ford Motor Company, Hamilton Materials, Inc., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Curtis Karnow
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Wrongful Death-Other Cancer
Case Resolved After Jury Selection: Excess of $350,000
July 2008
Myrna Johnson, et al. v. Ford Motor Company, General Motors Corporation, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Tomar Mason
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Wrongful Death-Lung Cancer
Case Resolved After Jury Selection: Excess of $230,000
July 2008
Jack and Wilma Carter v. J.T. Thorpe & Son, Inc., Pep Boys Manny Moe & Jack of California, Collins Electrical Company, Inc., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Tomar Mason
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Wrongful Death-Lung Cancer
Case Resolved During Motions In Limine: Excess of $350,000
July 2008
Eunice McClure v. Plant Insulation Company, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Tomar Mason
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Lung Cancer-Wrongful Death
Case Resolved During Plaintiff’s Case in Chief: Excess of $1,000,000 as to all Defendants
June 2008
Barbara J. Walker, et al. v. Foster Wheeler Corporation, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Tomar Mason
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Lung Cancer-Wrongful Death
Case Resolved After Opening Statements: Excess of $550,000
June 2008
Lloyd Frisbie v. Plant Insulation Company, Durabla Manufacturing Company, Inc., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Suzanne R. Bolanos
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Personal Injury-Lung Cancer
Case Resolved During Motions in Limine: Excess of $1,380,000
May 2008
Estate of Otto Schiebold v. Plant Insulation Company, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Tomar Mason
Trial Type: Product Liability-Negligence-Lung Cancer-Wrongful Death
Case Resolved at Closing: Excess of $2,400,000
April – May 2008
Merlene Ransdell v. Leslie Controls, Inc., Crane Co., Honeywell International, Inc., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Tomar Mason
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Wrongful Death-Mesothelioma
Case Resolved Before Opening Statements: Excess of $4,225,000
April 2008
Carl Shermer v. Plant Insulation Company, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Durabla Manufacturing Company, Inc., Slakey Brothers, Inc., et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Tomar Mason
Trial Type: Products Liability-Negligence-Personal Injury-Asbestosis
Case Resolved Before Jury Selection: Excess of $270,000
April 2008
Judy Oxford, et al. vs. Foster Wheeler Corporation, et al.
Civil Jury Trial
Superior Court: San Francisco County, California
Judge: Hon. Tomar Mason
Trial Type: Product Liability-Negligence-Mesothelioma-Wrongful Death
Verdict: $2,039,519
November 2007 – January 2008
