Former Oregon Shipyard Worker Awarded $34.2 Million in Mesothelioma Case

For purposes of this article, the mesothelioma victim in this case will be referred to as R.L.

In a recent ruling, a Multnomah County jury ordered John Crane Inc., a company that makes gaskets, to pay $34.2 million to R.L. after determining that the company was responsible for the asbestos exposure that resulted in his biphasic pleural mesothelioma diagnosis. The verdict came after weeks of testimony.

From 1972 to 1985, R.L. worked at a ship repair facility on Swan Island, located north of Portland, Oregon. His work duties involved helping machinists and other workers in ship engine rooms. These areas were filled with asbestos-contaminated gaskets, insulation, and packing materials. During maintenance and repairs, asbestos fibers were released into the air. R.L. inhaled these fibers over the years and ended up developing biphasic pleural mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma develops in the lungs and contains both epithelial and sarcomatoid cell types. Biphasic pleural mesothelioma is more challenging to treat than other forms of mesothelioma.

During the period when R.L. was working at the shipyard, the dangers of asbestos were not known to many. However, some industries knew about this substance’s dangers, including the companies that provided the material. Despite having this information, these companies never informed workers about the risks of asbestos. According to the evidence presented at trial, manufacturers like John Crane, Inc. knew their products could lead to diseases like mesothelioma but withheld this information. As a result, many workers like R.L. were unknowingly exposed to asbestos while doing their jobs.

Throughout the trial, the jury examined internal company documents and product safety data sheets. These records showed that the defendant had known about the dangers associated with asbestos-containing gaskets and packing materials for a long time. However, the company put profits first instead of warning workers like Mr. R.L. Ultimately, the jurors sided with R.L., who is now 71. The jury recognized that his biphasic pleural mesothelioma could have been prevented had the defendant warned about the dangers of its products. The $34.2 million the court awarded R.L. highlights the severity of the company’s wrongdoing and sends a powerful message to other companies that think they can get away with such reckless disregard for worker safety.

While not explicitly stated, the $34.2 million award most likely includes both compensatory and punitive damages. Punitive damages, which are rarely awarded, are designed to punish defendants for acting with reckless indifference to public health. These damages aim to prevent defendants and others from engaging in the same harmful conduct in the future.

Speaking on behalf of R.L. and his family, a representative emphasized the importance of the jury’s ruling. According to the representative, the jury’s decision reaffirmed the principle that large companies are legally obligated to warn about the dangers of their products. The representative used R.L.’s case to highlight the severe consequences that can come from corporations’ failure to warn about product hazards.

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