Contractor Wins $48M in California Mesothelioma Lawsuit

A mesothelioma victim who worked closely with Union Carbide asbestos products in Los Angeles over the course of five decades has been awarded $48 million following a California mesothelioma lawsuit in which the company was deemed liable for his illness.

Eighty-six-year-old Bobbie Izell worked as a cement contractor in the 1950s before becoming a general contractor and helping to build houses in the L.A. area in the 1960s until his retirement in 1994. During this time he rarely worked with asbestos directly, but was regularly exposed to asbestos dust when inspecting the homes he worked on.

In 2011 Bobbie was diagnosed with mesothelioma that he felt was caused by the Union Carbide products he had worked with. The asbestos lawsuit he and his wife filed against the company led to the uncovering of an

internal memo from 1967 that revealed Union Carbide was aware of the mesothelioma risks associated with asbestos caused cancer, but that they kept the findings secret amid fears that its building supplies sales could suffer.

The jury sided with Bobbie in the lawsuit, initially awarding the Izells $30 million in noneconomic damages on June 14. The panel later added $18 million in punitive damages for the family. The award is the largest asbestos-related verdict that has been handed out in the United States this year, Law360 (subscription required) reported.

If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos that has resulted in a mesothelioma diagnosis, call Sokolove Law today to learn more about pursuing a California mesothelioma lawsuit. For legal help, call (800) 581-6358.

Tags: