Mesothelioma

Magalong v. Triple A Machine Shop, Inc., et al. – Wrongful death action for a retired career boilermaker, estimator, and ship surveyor who worked from 1967–2013 at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard (Shop 41), Bethlehem Shipyard (Pier 70), Pacific Drydock & Repair–Oakland, Willamette Iron & Steel Co. (WISCO), Todd Shipyard, and aboard numerous ships and vessels, where he was regularly exposed to asbestos‑containing insulation, cements, pipe covering, refractory, valves, pumps, and related equipment. He developed mesothelioma, an invariably fatal cancer of the serosal lining of the lungs. May – June 2026: Case settled upon assignment to the trial department, in excess […]

Kindley v. Pneumo Abex LLC; Johnson & Johnson (LTL Management LLC); et al. – Wrongful death of a 47‑year‑old woman who developed mesothelioma after childhood exposure to asbestos‑containing Abex brake linings in her father’s automotive repair shop and to J&J Baby Powder used on her as an infant and throughout her teens. Abex had long‑standing internal medical knowledge, dating back to 1948 and 1964, that asbestos and mesothelioma were fatal hazards. She was diagnosed in 2020 and died in 2021. January 2025: Case resolved at the start of motions in limine prior to jury selection, in excess of $10,000,000.00.

Shannon v. Carrier Corp.; CAL‑Steam, Inc.; IMO Industries LLC; Red‑White Valve Corp.; The William Powell Co.; et al. – Career journeyman pipefitter (UA Local 38) who began pipefitting in England in 1962, completed his apprenticeship in Canada, and later worked at numerous Bay Area industrial and commercial sites, where he was exposed to asbestos‑containing products. He was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare abdominal cancer. October – November 2025: Case settled after jury selection, following the Court’s rulings on all motions in limine and denial of defendants’ reverse‑bifurcation motion, in excess of $6,500,000.00.

Utterback v. Westburne Supply Inc. (for P.E. O’Hair Co.), et al. – Personal injury action for an 87‑year‑old retired career insulator who worked across California for decades, including at Chico State University, where defendants supplied asbestos‑containing cement pipe, transite conduit, pumps, valves, packing, and gaskets delivered on flatbed trucks identified by a “bunny‑head” logo. He developed mesothelioma and lung cancer from long‑term occupational exposure. October 2024: Case resolved just prior to jury selection, in excess of $4,750,000.00.

Hardeman v. Westburne Supply, Inc. (fka P.E. O’Hair Supply Co.), et al. – Wrongful death of a 74‑year‑old former laborer and sprinklerfitter exposed to asbestos from spray‑applied fireproofing, gaskets, packing, pumps, controls, cements, and thermal insulation while working on construction projects and City of San Francisco building renovations, including City Hall, from 1964–2022. He developed sarcomatoid mesothelioma, an aggressive asbestos‑caused cancer. July-August 2025: Case resolved after rulings on pre‑trial motions in limine, in excess of $3,500,000.00.

Thom v. Scott Technologies, Inc. (Safway Scaffolding), et al. – Wrongful death of a Vietnam‑era U.S. Navy Gunners Mate and career pipefitter/welder who worked at multiple refineries, powerhouses, and industrial sites in Minnesota from 1982–1998 and suffered respiratory failure from disputed mesothelioma/asbestosis after long‑term asbestos exposure. February 2024: Resolved after jury selection at opening statements, in excess of $2,500,000.00.

Murray v. Amcord Inc.; Stockton Putty Plant (Valley Stucco & Putty Plant), et al. – Wrongful death of an 85‑year‑old retired lather who, after serving as a U.S. Marine Corps anti‑aircraft gunner from 1945–46, worked with and around asbestos‑containing lathe and plaster products from 1946–1988 at hospitals, schools, churches, apartments, single‑family homes, shopping centers, and commercial buildings throughout Central California. He developed mesothelioma and died from the spread of this asbestos‑caused cancer. September 2025: Case resolved on the eve of pre‑trial motions before jury selection, in excess of $1,500,000.00.

Timm v. Henkel US Operating Corp. (fka Henkel Corp.), et al. – Wrongful death of a former Aviation Machinist Mate and aircraft/heli­copter mechanic who served at NTC San Diego, NATTC Memphis, and Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, and later worked as an auto mechanic, painter, sheet‑metal worker, and aircraft repairman, where she was exposed to asbestos‑containing products and developed mesothelioma/lymphoma. August 2024: Case resolved at pre‑trial hearings prior to jury selection, in excess of $1,500,000.00.

Bonner v. Westburne Supply, Inc. (for P.E. O’Hair Co.), et al. – Wrongful death of an 86‑year‑old retired U.S. Naval Reservist/Seaman who served aboard the Henry W. Tucker (DDR‑875) and later worked for decades as a journeyman sheet‑metal mechanic throughout Northern California, where he experienced long‑term occupational exposure to asbestos‑containing products and developed mesothelioma. July-August 2025: Case resolved at jury selection, in excess of $300,000.00.

After a six (6) week trial and less than one (1) day of deliberations, a San Francisco jury assessed a verdict in favor of 81 year old plaintiff George Lucas against defendant Triple A Machine Shop, Inc., a shipyard contractor, deciding that defendant Triple A was negligent and contributed to cause Mr. Lucas’ mesothelioma.(George Lucas v. Triple A Machine Shop, Inc., 2017 Case No. ##XX#####, San Francisco County Superior Court)

After a three week trial and two days of deliberations, a Multnomah County jury returned a verdict against John Crane Inc. The jury assessed $1.93 million in total non-economic damages and $813,853 in economic damages. The jury also found that the defendant corporation showed a reckless and outrageous indifference to a highly unreasonable risk of harm and assessed $3 million dollars in punitive damages. ( Robert and Bonnie Sprague v. John Crane Inc. , 2017 Case No. 15CV14771, Multnomah County Circuit Court)

After a six week trial and one day of deliberations, an Alameda County jury assessed over $70,000,000 verdict against John Crane Inc., an asbestos packing and gasket manufacturer. ( Robert & Linda Whalen v. John Crane Inc. , 2014, Case No. RG14711964, Alameda County Superior Court)

A San Francisco jury found Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc., a manufacturer of joint compounds, guilty of acting with oppression or malice by clear and convincing evidence and levied a $6,000,000 punitive damages verdict against defendant Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. ( Melvin Desin v. Defendant Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. , 2012 Case No. 275881, San Francisco Superior Court)

A Los Angeles jury found against Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc., a manufacturer of asbestos-containing joint compounds, deciding that their compounds were defectively designed and contained a failure to warn product defect. ( Vincent Monaco v. Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc. , 2012 Case No. BC473091, Los Angeles Superior Court)

A unanimous San Francisco jury found Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc., a manufacturer of joint compounds and wallboard materials, guilty of acting with oppression or malice by clear and convincing evidence. ( John Casey and Patricia Casey v. Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc., et al. , 2011 Case No. CGC–10–275517, San Francisco Superior Court)

A jury in Salt Lake City, Utah found in favor of Vickie Warren, suffering from a rare case of peritoneal mesothelioma, in her products liability design defect and products liability failure to warn trial against Georgia–Pacific, LLP, Hamilton Materials, Inc., and Union Carbide Corporation. The asbestos products manufactured by the defendants were found to be the cause of her peritoneal mesothelioma. ( Vickie Warren v. Georgia Pacific; Hamilton Materials and Union Carbide Corporation , 2010 Case No. 070911933, Salt Lake City Third Judicial District Court)

A federal jury in Seattle, Washington found in favor of Henry Barabin, a retired Crown Zellerbach Paper Mill worker suffering from mesothelioma, and his wife, Geraldine, in their products liability case against Scapa Dryer Fabrics, Inc. and AstenJohnson Inc., two former manufacturers of asbestos–containing dryer fabrics used on paper machines. ( Henry Barabin, et al. v.Scapa Dryer Fabrics, Inc. & AstenJohnson, Inc. , 2009 Case No. C07-01454-RSL, United States District Court, Western District of Washington) Rather than pay the judgment, the defendants appealed. Mr. Barabin managed to beat the odds and bravely fought his mesothelioma for a long time before […]

A jury ruled in favor of the family of Richard Worthley Sr., a deceased former Johns–Manville Transite plant worker from Beaumont, California, in their negligence, products liability design defect, and products liability failure to warn trial against Advocate Mines Limited, an asbestos mine in Baie Verte, Newfoundland. ( Mickie Worthley, et al. v. Advocate Mines Limited, et. al. , 2009 Case No. 432308, San Francisco Superior Court)

A jury ruled in favor of Jack Reynolds, a former drywaller from Rio Vista, California, in his products liability trial against Hamilton Materials, Inc., assessing $8.4 million in damages, due to Hamilton Materials, Inc.’s contribution in causing Mr. Reynolds’ mesothelioma. ( Jack Reynolds v. Hamilton Materials, Inc. , 2009 Case No. 274747, San Francisco Superior Court)

A jury ruled in favor of Charles Johnson, a former laborer from Oakland, California, in his negligence trial against Plant Insulation Company, assessing $1,185,500, due to Plant Insulation Company’s contribution in causing Mr. Johnson’s mesothelioma. ( Charles Johnson v. Plant Insulation Company, et al. , 2009 Case No. 274919, San Francisco Superior Court)

A jury awarded $2,039,519 in total damages to the family of Calvin Oxford, a former Navy boiler tender who developed mesothelioma from asbestos exposure during his Navy service in the 1960s. ( Judy Oxford, et al. vs. Foster Wheeler Corporation, et al. , 2008 No. 440328, San Francisco Superior Court)

A jury ruled in favor of a former plastics molder suffering from mesothelioma, assessing over $18.5 million in damages against a former asbestos mining and manufacturing company. ( David Bakkie v. Union Carbide Corporation , 2006 Case No. 445300, San Francisco Superior Court, California)

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, California)

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 vs. John Crane Inc. and Metalclad Insulation Corp. , 2005, Case No. 412325, San Francisco Superior Court, California)

A San Francisco jury awarded $2,999,543 to a 74–year old retired electrician who is terminally ill with pleural mesothelioma caused by occupational asbestos exposure. He worked with asbestos–containing phenolic plastic compounds and asbestos–containing parts on electrical equipment. ( Philip Hoeffer v. Rockwell Automation , 2003, Case No. 28817, San Francisco Superior Court, California)

In what is believed to be the largest verdict ever in a California asbestos case, a San Francisco jury awarded a total of $33.7 million to a navy electrician and his wife. Mr. Todak, who suffers from mesothelioma, was awarded $22.7 million and his wife received $11 million for loss of consortium. ( Alfred Todak v. Foster Wheeler L.L.C. , 2002, San Francisco Superior Court, California)

A jury returned a verdict of $8 million in favor of an insulator who contracted mesothelioma from work around boilers at a refinery. ( Alan Vasen v. Exxon Mobil Corporation , 2001, Case No. 312211, San Francisco Superior Court, California)

A steamfitter diagnosed with mesothelioma received over $4.4 million in damages. The defendant, John Crane, Inc., manufactured asbestos pump and valve packing and gaskets that the steamfitter used at a power plant during the 1950’s and 1960’s. ( James and Rose Efstratios v. John Crane, Inc. , 2001, Case No. BC226519, Los Angeles Superior Court, California)