Consecutive Mesothelioma Verdicts By Seattle Juries

Consecutive Mesothelioma Verdicts By Seattle Juries

Introduction

Two separate Seattle juries awarded back-to-back verdicts to mesothelioma victims in cases involving exposure to asbestos products.

On September 4, 2019, the Estate of one victim won a verdict of $425,000 against Alcoa in a premises liability claim arising out of the Alcoa aluminum plant in Wenatchee, Washington. The victim performed metalwork from the 1960s-1980s as an outside contractor at the Alcoa aluminum smelter in Wenatchee. During this period, he was exposed to asbestos and was never warned of the hazards or provided respiratory protection. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2017 and died several months later. Following a three-week trial before King County Superior Court Judge Keenan, Alcoa was held liable for maintaining an unsafe premise that caused the plaintiff's cancer.

On September 14, 2019, a couple was awarded $4.25 million against Lone Star Industries in a case involving exposure to asbestos products by King County jury. The husband worked at Lockheed Shipyard on Harbor Island as a marine electrician in the early 1970s. He was exposed to asbestos products at the shipyard and diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in early 2019 at the age of 80. Plaintiffs' attorney sued Lone Star and several other companies who manufactured or supplied asbestos products to Lockheed Shipyard. All the claims against other defendants were settled, and following a three-week trial against Lone Star, the jury awarded $1.5 million to the husband and $2.75 million to his wife.