A March 11 verdict in McLean County, Ill. left a handful of companies charged with a total of $90 million in damages, the second highest amount ever in a mesothelioma case. The largest chunk of that total was the $40 million in punitive damages charged to Owens-Illinois (O-I), a bottling company.
Next in line were Honeywell International Inc. and Pneumo Abex with $20 million each in charges, however, the plaintiff, Charles Gillenwater, had never worked or come in contact with products from any of these companies, including O-I. Gillenwater alleged he was exposed to asbestos after working as a pipefitter in several different locations, however, the claim was made that these companies had apparently concealed information regarding asbestos health risks from their employees and customers.
According to a statement released by Lisa A. Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, "the ruling confirms a troubling trend in the state of Illinois where there is a hostile litigation environment that continues to destroy jobs and impair economic growth."
Proving her point, the highest ever verdict in a mesothelioma case was also in Ill., where 177 plaintiffs were charged over $200 million in total, also making it the highest personal injury settlement in the state.
According to the National Cancer Institute, about 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year. Related to asbestos exposure, this rare form of cancer takes years and years to develop, and once discovered is most likely incurable.
Verdicts for individual mesothelioma cases can range from a few hundred thousand dollars to a few million, sometimes reaching up to the $20 million dollar mark. When dealing with a consolidated case, amounts are sometimes much higher, as in the present $90 million case.
O-I released in a statement that they were "disappointed" by the verdict. Both O-I and Honeywell have made public that they intend to appeal.
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