Va. Judge Upholds $3.4M Verdict in Asbestos Case

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September 17th, 2007

"Asbestos Verdict for Family of Shipyard Worker Upheld"

A Virginia Supreme Court judge upheld a multimillion-dollar jury verdict in the asbestos case of a former Newport News shipyard employee who died of mesothelioma, a fatal asbestos-related cancer, in 2005.

Garland F. “Buddy” Jones Jr. worked around asbestos from 1963 to 1967 at Newport News Shipbuilding. Shortly before his death, Jones initiated a lawsuit against John Crane Inc., Johns Manville Corp., and Garlock Sealing Technologies—all manufacturers of industrial materials and parts containing asbestos.

His wife of 41 years, Wanda T. Jones, continued the wrongful death lawsuit after Jones died and was awarded $10.4 million in July 2006. The jury said John Crane was responsible for $3.4 million of the total verdict. The other two defendants settled for undisclosed amounts prior to the jury's decision.

Appeal Rejected

John Crane appealed the verdict, but the court unanimously rejected the company's appeal. Wanda Jones did not live to see the verdict upheld—she died three weeks ago of a cancer not related to asbestos exposure.

The Jones' three children are the beneficiaries of the award. Ansley Higginbotham, their daughter, said they are grateful the judge upheld the verdict.

“It's a bittersweet day for our family. It was important to our mother to receive justice in this case. She worked very tirelessly to make it happen, and I'm very proud of her for seeing it through during such a difficult time. She did not allow such a big company to intimidate her,” Higginbotham said.

(Source: Dailypress.com)

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