A former professional football player and his business partner are facing multiple federal charges for improperly transporting and storing asbestos waste in violation of the federal Clean Air Act. If the men are convicted on all of the offenses with which they are charged, they could be sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
Court reinstates vacated asbestos award
Earlier this year, a state supreme court struck down the damages award in an asbestos lawsuit, finding that the widow of a deceased Navy seaman should not be compensated for her husband's pain and suffering and for her own loss of society. Now, the same court has reinstated the portion of the damages awarded for pain and suffering, finding that the federal Jones Act permits such an award.
Asbestos settlement reached - after jury selection
Earlier this week, attorneys representing both sides of an asbestos lawsuit in Madison County conducted the jury selection process, choosing 14 jurors to hear the case out of a pool of 53 eligible local residents. And then the parties to the suit reached a settlement, thereby ending the case and relieving the jurors from service.
Historic map sells despite asbestos concerns
A once-popular tourist attraction at the Gettysburg battlefield has reportedly sold to an unnamed buyer for just over $14,000. The buyer will now take on the significant and most likely expensive tasks of relocating the four-ton structure and removing the asbestos with which it was constructed.
Missouri court rules against asbestos defendant's autopsy request
In a recent landmark ruling, a Missouri judge ruled that a company named as a defendant in an asbestos case may not reserve the right to autopsy the plaintiff in the event that he succumbs to the mesothelioma that is at the center of his case. The judge gave several reasons for denying the defendant company's autopsy motion, the most significant being that the plaintiff is not deceased, and that he will likely still be alive when his mesothelioma trial starts in the next few months.
South African miners seek class action status for lung disease lawsuit
Although the following lawsuit is not being tried in Madison County or even in the United States, we felt it was important to share on our Illinois personal injury blog. It a reminder that people all over the world are suffering from mesothelioma and other deadly lung diseases as a result of their employers' failure to protect them from the harmful effects of substances they come into contact with every day at work.
Illinois Supreme Court to decide asbestos forum case
The Illinois Supreme Court recently announced its September docket, which includes an asbestos case that has been closely watched and hotly debated since it was filed in the state three years ago. The high court's decision will set a precedent that will be followed in the state for years to come, dictating whether plaintiffs from other states can file asbestos lawsuits in Illinois when the asbestos exposure at issue took place in another jurisdiction.
Following federal ruling, Illinois judge reduces asbestos award
In 2011, an Illinois jury awarded nearly $90 million in damages to the widow of a man who had passed away from mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos at work. Now, following a federal court ruling which limited the situations in which a company could be held liable for a worker's death, an Illinois judge has reduced that jury award down to $8 million.
Judge denies attempt to move mesothelioma case to federal court
For people who develop mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure, time often becomes a major focus of their lives. They may think about the long time they lived completely unaware that asbestos was causing irreversible damage to their lungs or other organs. They may think about the short time they have left to live as a result. And they may think about the fact that, even if they pursue litigation against the parties responsible for their asbestos exposure and life-altering diagnosis, the time it will take to get to trial may prevent them from ever benefiting from that effort.
