Bloomington – A jury award in relation with a last year verdict against 4 firms has been reduced from $90 M to $8.4 M by a judge in McLean County. The companies were blamed for allegedly exposing a man negligently to toxic fibers of asbestos. Asbestos is a fibrous mineral found in nature. Once it was widely mined because of its various useful properties. Asbestos has great insulating properties. It is durable and cheap as well. For all these reasons, it became the most favorite industrial and construction material. But after the 1980s, some hazards associated with the material started to become known. Its use became restricted and regulated then. Though the material is not extensively used now-a-days, asbestos can be still found in many of our old buildings. Asbestos removal is a very expensive and skill-required process. Before the 1980s, many industries also used the material and exposed their employees to the dangerous carcinogen. Charles Gillenwater worked as a pipe fitter at various sites such as IL State University, The Eureka Company, and Bridgestone Firestone, according to a suit filed by the attorneys of the asbestos victim. He developed malignant mesothelioma in 1970s. Gillenwater was 59 years old when he died. Scott Drazewski, the federal judge, ruled on 31st August that verdicts against Honeywell International, Owens-Illinois and Pneumo Abex are vacated. However, the ruling against the company John Crane, which was for $8.4 M, was permitted to stand. Gillenwater’s widow and attorneys said they are really disappointed with the ruling of Drazewski that proof was inadequate to demonstrate a possible conspiracy among the defendant companies for keeping information regarding the dangerous features of asbestos material from employees and the public. “The twelve jurors in the case had unanimously found that a conspiracy was there. Additionally, 10 other juries consist of residents of McLean County have equally determined that the companies had engaged in a conspiracy, resulting in other community members to develop asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma. Gillenwater died from mesothelioma,” the plaintiff’s attorney said. The plaintiff was awarded $9.6 M as compensatory damages against Honeywell, Owens-Illinois and Pneumo Abex. The jury also awarded $20 M in punitive damages against Honeywell and $40 M against Owens-Illinois. Drazewski also dismissed a motion filed by John Crain requesting a new trial. The plaintiff’s lawyers say they are going to appeal the ruling.
