"Jury Awards $10.3 Million in Asbestos Case "

August 11, 2006
A San Francisco jury awarded $10.3 million in damages to a 60-year-old man suffering from mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure.

George Barnes, a former navy shipfitter was awarded $9 million in non-economic damages, including pain and suffering, mental anguish, and more.

He also received economic damages totaling more than $1 million for medical bills, lost wages and earning capacity, and disability. His wife, Darlene Barnes, was awarded $100,000 for the loss of consortium

Jeffrey Kaiser, the Barnes' attorney, said, Mr. Barnes had basically worked for 25 years as a union shipfitterHe had a very nice life, and a nice family, and I think the jury recognized that he's going to lose it all.

Thorpe Insulation Co., the only defendant at trial, was deemed responsible for 15 percent of Barnes' injury and must pay $2.3 million in damages. The Navy, which was Barnes' former employer, and other asbestos manufacturers and distributors were also deemed responsible.

According to Kaiser, the award is one of the largest handed down in an asbestos case in the state of California.

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