Newport News, VA Injury Lawyer Report – $9.1 Million Award in Wrongful Death Asbestos Case

Harrowing details of the death of a former Newport News, VA shipyard worker from an asbestos related disease have been heard in a wrongful death lawsuit brought by his family.

John Bristow had hoped for a happy retirement after working at Newport News Shipbuilding. But his world fell apart a few years ago when he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, the Daily Press reported. He died a lingering and painful death in March 2011.

At a three-week jury trial for $9.95 million, attorneys for Bristow’s family said his death was triggered by a maker of many of the asbestos parts that he worked with at the shipyard in Newport News, VA from 1962 to 1978. A jury awarded just over $9.1 million on Feb. 17, 2012.

See this video about the dangers of asbestos in homes.

“Asbestos, with heat-resistant properties, was used heavily on ships for decades, for such things as insulation, gaskets, seals and pumps,” the Daily Press reported.

The lawsuit was against a maker of parts, John Crane Inc. It says the company knew or should have known about the dangers of parts that contained asbestos, but failed to take steps to inform or warn workers.

As a Newport News, VA personal injury lawyer, I can only sympathize with the family who lost a husband, a father and a grandfather to such a terrible disease.

In a recent article our experienced Virginia injury lawyers outlined the many places asbestos was used in the state in the past including on the railroads, in buildings, the shipyards and facilities such as power stations.

Newport News Shipbuilding has been the subject of a number of asbestos-related lawsuits. In March 2011, a jury awarded a former worker $25 million in a lawsuit against Exxon after he developed Mesothelioma.