A Cleveland couple has been awarded $27.5 million in a second-hand asbestos exposure case that is believed to be the largest ever in the state of Ohio.
The plaintiff in the case claimed that he was exposed to asbestos as a child by breathing in fibers from his father’s work clothes. The plaintiff’s father, who worked at a plant that manufactured brakes, was required to deliver materials all over the plant. He was also a frequent bystander to other employees who drilled and abraded brake products, which released asbestos. In 1994, the plaintiff’s father died of lung cancer at the age of 52.
The plaintiff, who said he was exposed to asbestos from the time he was born up to a decade later, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2012 after a pleural effusion was accidentally discovered during a chest x-ray for what was believed to be the flu or pneumonia. After undergoing several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, the then 38-year-old plaintiff underwent surgery to remove his right lung and part of his diaphragm. While he still experiences side effects from his battle with mesothelioma, the plaintiff says he has shown no evidence of disease since the time of treatment. He is now in his 40s.
The Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court jury awarded the plaintiff $515,000 in economic damages and $12 million in non-economic damages. His wife was awarded $15 million for loss of consortium for a total award of $27,515,000. The previous record asbestos verdict in Ohio is believed to be $6.4 million. That verdict was handed down in 2003.
If you have been exposed to asbestos, see your doctor right away. Even if you show no signs of disease, your doctor can establish a monitoring plan that can help detect changes in the body well before symptoms appear. It is important to keep in mind that by the time symptoms do begin to appear, mesothelioma is already in its later stages.
Although there is no cure for mesothelioma, early diagnosis often leads to better treatment options and outcomes. See your doctor today.
Sources
"Forty-Year-Old English Professor Receives $27.5 Million Asbestos Award." Newswire. Newswire.com LLC, 26 Dec. 2013. Web. 15 May 2018.
"Signs and Symptoms of Mesothelioma." American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society, Inc., 2018. Web. 15 May 2018.
Smith, Sandy. "English Professor, Wife Win Record-Setting Asbestos Lawsuit." EHS Today. Informa USA, Inc., 23 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 May 2018.
