Nearly $2 Million Compensation Payout For Asbestos Exposure -- MesoLink.org -- 04-12-06

A man has been awarded damages of nearly $2 million after being exposed to asbestos and contracting the deadly asbestos related cancer known as mesothelioma. The award was made by a San Francisco jury, and was in a case against a former manufacturer of asbestos based products through which the plaintiff was allegedly exposed.

The plaintiff, Charlton Clemmer, and his wife, Kay Clemmer, were awarded a total of $1.9 million after taking the company, John Crane Inc., to court for product liability and negligence. Another defendant named in the lawsuit was Thorpe Insulation Company, which used to manufacture and supply asbestos based insulation.

Mr. Clemmer, a retired machinist, was diagnosed with the cancer in 2004, and the lawsuit alleged that the companies named as defendants were negligent and failed to inform consumers of defective designs with their products.

One of the lawyers working on behalf of Mr. & Mrs. Clemmer stated: “I wish that companies whose products have caused serious injury would take note and responsibly address the human toll without time and again putting deserving plaintiffs like the Clemmers through a trial. John Crane, Inc. refuses to settle any case and has taken this stance for over 20 years despite verdict after verdict against them. It’s their right—but it is still unfortunate.”