Thomas J. Lamb Asbestos Litigation Law Blog on Lawyers.com

Almost 4 years after his death, a worker from the Niagra Falls Hooker Chemical plant gained victory over Fisher Controls, a St. Louis-based supplier of industrial control valves.  The plant worker was diagnosed with mesothelioma after working on these valves for 18 years.  The valves contained gaskets made of asbestos.

Most disturbing is that the company knew of asbestos’ deadly effects as early as 1946, 40 years before this Niagra Falls man had worked with the valves, and still did nothing.  They made no effort to provide warning to those using their product.  Thus the jury decided to hold Fisher Controls wholly responsible for the worker’s asbestos-related cancer and his death.

The Buffalo News reports, “Court officials said the verdict, which includes a $750,000 punitive damages award, marks both the first time Fisher Controls has been found liable for using asbestos in its products and the first punitive damages award in a New York State asbestos case in more than 20 years.”

It was a bittersweet victory for the family and friends of this gentleman.  We hope that the resolution of this case will serve as an example and a warning to those companies who would bypass safety for profit.

Watch it on Asbestos News Minute.