Pain and Suffering Awards for Asbestos Exposure-Related Deaths
Up to the 1970s, asbestos exposure was common for those working in the fields of building and construction. This fibrous mineral was used in an assortment of building products, which were then handled and installed by buildings and construction workers. It has been over 30 years since the dangers of asbestos became common knowledge. However, the effects of this deadly material are still being felt. This is because asbestos-related illnesses can take at least 10 years or longer from the time of exposure before symptoms arise. By this time an older person could be quickly ravaged by asbestosis, mesothelioma lung cancer and other fatal illnesses attributed to occupational asbestos exposure. In an attempt to compensate the families of victims, awards of large amounts of money are being paid to help ease the pain and suffering associated with the loss of a family member due to occupational asbestos exposure.
The Awards to New York Widows
Earlier this month, a record breaking award of $8 million was granted for each of the two widows whose husbands suffered from occupational asbestos exposure. The plaintiffs who brought these suits were the widow of a Navy officer who repaired ship broilers, and the widow of a New York construction worker who assisted with the building of the Midtown Olympic Tower. Both women were granted awards of $8 million each because of occupational asbestos exposure that caused their husbands to suffer and subsequently die from mesothelioma cancer. Part of the reason for the large awards was the fact that the employers of both husbands had knowledge that asbestos materials were extremely hazardous, but still allowed the use of such materials.
The Manville Family Awards
An award of $90 million was entered by a judge in New Brunswick, New Jersey for 11 Manville, NJ families who lost family members because of asbestos-related cancers. This astounding award came after an almost never ending battle that first entered the courts in 2008. The suit took so long to resolve because the defendants held responsible for the asbestos exposure were foreign nationals located abroad. The awards were granted as compensation for the extreme pain and suffering experienced by the families of 11 people, which included both a daughter and her mother. Mesothelioma-related illnesses were blamed for the 11 deaths. The company responsible for paying this award is a Swiss company that supplied asbestos to Johns Manville Company, which produced insulation in Manville, NJ through the use of asbestos-containing materials. The range of the awards was $4 million for a woman who died at the age of 81 in 2009, while a husband was awarded $15 million for the death of his wife who also died in 2009, but at the relatively young age of 49 years old.
Asbestos exposure awards can be granted for millions of dollars in order to compensate for the pain and suffering associated with dealing with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Contact an asbestos exposure attorney today.