| Taylor Decision Continues to Gain Momentum
April 29, 2010
The first Los Angeles plaintiffs' asbestos verdict of 2010 came down late in the afternoon of Wednesday, April 28 involving a Take-Home exposure claim.
The case involved plaintiff, Rhoda Evans, who alleged that she has been diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of her contact with her husband, Bobby Evans (also a plaintiff), who worked with and around asbestos-containing products. Rhoda Evans is 72 years old. Plaintiffs claimed that Rhoda Evans was exposed to asbestos from her husband's work clothes from his work at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power as a custodian on water pipe maintenance and also home brake repair work.
Plaintiffs were represented by the Levin Simes firm out of San Francisco. Two defendants tried the case to verdict - Certainteed Corporation and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Both those defendants and a category of "Other" were listed on the jury verdict form. The "Other" category included three other defendants who had started trial but did not finish.
The jury found for plaintiffs against both Certainteed and the LADWP. The apportionment of fault was 70% to Certainteed and 30% to the LADWP. The total verdict was $6.8 million for plaintiff, Rhoda, and $2 million for plaintiff, Bobby Evan's loss of consortium claim. There was no apportionment of fault to any other defendants even though some evidence was put on at the beginning of trial as to the three "Other" defendants. At the conclusion of the punitive damage phase of the trial, which took place today, plaintiffs were awarded an additional $200 million.
This trial was videotaped.
If you have any questions or would like any further information regarding please feel free to contact Walsworth, Franklin, Bevins & McCall with any questions.
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