The jury in a circuit court in Newport News, Va., announced a $ 25,000,000 verdict against Exxon Mobil in a lawsuit related to asbestos by a former shipyard worker Rupert "Bert" Minton, 72, is the One of the biggest decisions in Virginia personal history. Minton was a ship fitter for new buildings in seven years at Newport News Shipbuilding, a supervisor before repair of commercial vessels between 1966 and 1977. During his 18 years of service, repair Minton 17 tankers Exxon commercial.
Minton now suffering from mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective membrane of the principal organs and body cavities that are caused almost exclusively by the long-term exposure to asbestos. According to experts mesothelioma taking this aggressive and incurable cancer decades to develop and often affects the lining of the lungs, because by the inhalation of asbestos is the primary means of exposure. Minton had inhaled billions of microscopic, cancer-causing asbestos fibers while working at the shipyard. This exposure led to a mesothelioma forecasts two years to live.
After a trial lasting nearly three weeks, the jury rendered its decision in one day of deliberation. Minton received $ 12 million in damages, $ 12.5 million punitive damages and $ 430,961 in medical costs and interest. The jury awarded two and a half times more punitive damages than the amount requested $ 5 million. Exxon Mobil is expected to appeal.
Minton now suffering from mesothelioma, a rare cancer of the protective membrane of the principal organs and body cavities that are caused almost exclusively by the long-term exposure to asbestos. According to experts mesothelioma taking this aggressive and incurable cancer decades to develop and often affects the lining of the lungs, because by the inhalation of asbestos is the primary means of exposure. Minton had inhaled billions of microscopic, cancer-causing asbestos fibers while working at the shipyard. This exposure led to a mesothelioma forecasts two years to live.
After a trial lasting nearly three weeks, the jury rendered its decision in one day of deliberation. Minton received $ 12 million in damages, $ 12.5 million punitive damages and $ 430,961 in medical costs and interest. The jury awarded two and a half times more punitive damages than the amount requested $ 5 million. Exxon Mobil is expected to appeal.
