January 3, 2023

Categories

Asbestos

Jury Orders Volkswagen to Pay $5 Million in Asbestos Exposure Case

Volkswagen was found liable for exposing Thomas Sorrentino to asbestos through his work as a mechanic for Volkswagen in Spokane, WA. The jury awarded $5 million to the estate of Mr. Sorrentino, and $750k to his son. Sorrentino was exposed to asbestos through Volkswagen brake parts. Sorrentino also used a grinding machine for the brake parts that sent asbestos fibers flying into the air. He also used compressed air to clean asbestos dust from parts. Volkswagen admitted that they did not put warnings about asbestos on their brakes, brake boxes or in any bulletins from 1972-1975. Sorrentino was diagnosed with […]

December 20, 2022

Categories

Asbestos

$40 Million Asbestos Exposure Verdict Against Avon

Avon Products Inc. was ordered to pay over $10 million in punitive damages to a woman who contracted cancer from talc in Avon cosmetics. Avon hid the risks of their talc-based powders that cause cancer. They failed to warn customers about the risk of asbestos exposure from their products. Avon has already awarded Rita Chapman $40 million in actual damages totaling now more than $50 million. Chapman was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2021. She used Avon powders that had high levels of asbestos. Avon has faced almost 130 talc suits since 2020. Our attorneys are dedicated to fighting for your […]

September 1, 2022

Categories

Asbestos

Hairdresser Dies From Asbestos Exposure From Hairdryers

A hairdresser, Pauline Kirby, who cleaned hair dryers that contained asbestos in the 1970s died from mesothelioma. Kirby’s diagnosis came in 2016, decades after her exposure to the carcinogenic material. Her husband, an electrician, said in her hearing that he didn’t realize that they had been exposed to asbestos while cleaning and repairing the hair dryers. About 90% of hair dryers manufactured through the late 1970s contained asbestos. Many hairdressers were exposed to the material consistently in the course of their employment. Her family also stated Covid lockdowns had ill effect on her health as she could not participate in […]

July 27, 2022

Categories

Asbestos

Infographic: Asbestos Exposure in Your Home

July 27, 2022

Categories

$3.5 Million Mesothelioma Verdict Against Old Spice For Asbestos in the Product

Whittaker, Clark & Daniels, Inc. is being sued by a man who was exposed to asbestos through several products they supplied talc for. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2017 after being exposed to asbestos-laced talc in an Old Spice product that Whittaker, Clark & Daniels, Inc. supplied the talc for. The plaintiff said that the company’s officers and directors knew of the dangerous effects relating to talc but deliberately failed to prevent consumers’ exposure to asbestos. The company’s past vice president testified at trial about the company’s business and its distribution of talc. It was discovered that high-level employees […]

April 27, 2022

Categories

The BBC Settles with 11 Families over Mesothelioma Deaths of Former Employees

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has recently paid several families £1.64 million for the deaths of 11 former staff who were exposed to asbestos and died from mesothelioma, and asbestos-related cancer. The BBC staff that was exposed to asbestos held positions such as: make-up artists, engineers, riggers, set builders, studio managers, and television producers from 1959 through 1998. Staff were exposed at several BBC locations including Broadcasting House in London, Pebble Mill studio in Birmingham, Bush House in London, Alexandra Palace in London, and Television Center in London. In 2006, the BBC warned employees that they could have been exposed […]

April 27, 2022

Categories

Asbestos

$20 million Verdict for Mechanic Exposed to Asbestos by Ford Motor Company

A Missouri court jury heard opening statements for a lawsuit from a former mechanic, Bill Trokey, exposed to asbestos from Ford Motor Company’s auto parts from 1960 to 1968. Mr. Trokey was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2020. Mr. Trokey stated on the witness stand that he worked at two auto repair stations doing brake installations, tune-ups, and clutch work using Ford parts. Ford did not provide any warnings about asbestos on their products despite knowing the risks. After two weeks, the jury returned a $20 million verdict in favor of the mechanic. For years, Ford has been named in thousands […]

April 27, 2022

Categories

Asbestos

The EPA looks to finally ban asbestos in the United States

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new proposed rule to finally ban the use of all asbestos. Asbestos is a carcinogen that is still used in the U.S. and kills many thousands of Americans every year. The proposed rule would ban the use of all asbestos, including chrysotile asbestos, under a 2016 law that overhauled rules governing tens of thousands of toxic chemicals in everyday products, from household cleaners to clothing and furniture. Chrysotile asbestos is the most common type of asbestos used in products, from brake linings and gaskets to floors and roofs, and used to manufacture other […]

April 27, 2022

Categories

Johnson & Johnson: Asbestos Experiment on Inmates Comes to Light

In 1971, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) funded a study that injected 50 prisoners in Pennsylvania with asbestos. The purpose behind the study was to study the effect that talc and asbestos has on human skin and the differences between asbestos and talc. Talc is the main ingredient in their infamous baby powder and often contains asbestos naturally. J&J defends their study stating that this testing was acceptable for the time. A spokesperson for J&J stated that “At the time of these studies, nearly 50 years ago, testing of this nature among this cohort set was widely accepted, including by prominent […]

April 27, 2022

Categories

Asbestos

Asbestos in everyday products

There was a time when asbestos was in nearly everything. It was inexpensive, relatively easy to find, and falsely believed by consumers and workers to be safe. Even today, there are still times when products you use every day could contain asbestos. Here’s what you should know about products that could contain asbestos. Remaining intentional uses While there are dramatically fewer places where you will encounter asbestos, it still has some very common uses, such as: Building and roofing materials Automobile parts (primarily clutches and brakes) Thermal Insulation Many other products Chalk Baby powder Makeup Crayons You may not handle […]