$90 Million Awarded to Families in Asbestos Wrongful Death Suits
The families of 11 individuals who died from mesothelioma allegedly caused by on-the-job asbestos exposure have been awarded more than $90 million in damages.
New Jersey Superior Court Judge Ana Viscomi has ordered two Swiss companies to pay $90.5 million in damages to the families of 11 victims who died from asbestos-related illnesses while employed by a New Jersey insulation plant. Anova Holding AG and Becon AG, both based on Switzerland, allegedly supplied asbestos to the Johns Manville insulation plant in New Jersey, and were legally served and notified of the asbestos lawsuits filed by the victims’ families. The companies failed to respond to the wrongful death complaints or send legal representatives to a week-long hearing, however, so Judge Viscomi issued default judgments against the companies earlier this month.
Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Claims
According to court documents, the wrongful death lawsuits were filed against Anova Holding AG and Becon AG between 2008 and 2011, and the families involved in the suits were awarded damages ranging from $4 million to $15 million. The two Swiss companies named in the suits are successors who hold the most shares of Eternit Group, which allegedly sold South African asbestos to companies around the world. Stephan Schmidheiny, a former director of Eternit, is currently serving an 18-year prison sentence for being tied to the deaths of 3,000 people from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma.
Asbestos-Related Mesothelioma Cancer
Asbestos is a material that was widely used in the past in a variety of manufacturing and construction applications, with its use peaking in 1973. When inhaled, asbestos dust and fibers have been linked to the development of a rare and deadly type of cancer known as mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the chest and lungs. Unfortunately, because mesothelioma has a very long latency period, the cancer is often not diagnosed until decades after exposure, and is therefore associated with a very short life-expectancy. Most uses of asbestos were banned in the mid-1980s, but many individuals exposed to asbestos prior to the ban are just now being diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses.
Contact an Abestos Mesothelioma Lawyer Today
Asbestos litigation is the longest-running mass tort in the history of the United States, with more than 6,000 defendants facing asbestos lawsuits filed on behalf of more than 600,000 individuals diagnosed with lung cancer or mesothelioma allegedly caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another deadly occupational disease, and you believe asbestos exposure to be the cause, our consumer advocates at the Leading Justice can help. You may have grounds to file an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit against the allegedly negligent party, in order to pursue financial compensation for your losses.