Jury Awards $22M in Asbestos-Contaminated Paint Case

A California jury recently awarded $22 million to the estate of a man exposed to asbestos-containing talc that was used in paint manufacturing, expanding the liability of those supplying the toxic ingredient. Plaintiff Richard Booker, who worked as a paint maker throughout his career, died of mesothelioma in 2016. The lawsuit claimed Booker was exposed to asbestos while working for Dexter Midland Chemical Co. and Walter N. Boysen Paint Co. The lucrative award includes $4.6 million in punitive damages, along with the initial judgement of $17.57 million for malice on the part of Vanderbilt Minerals and Imerys Talc America Inc. The jury ruled the two companies shared responsibility for marketing, selling and distributing the talc product. Talc is a clay mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate, used in paints for its ability to resist heat and deter grease and oil absorption. It also is used as an ingredient in ceramics, insecticides, roofing materials, rubber, talcum powder and the pulp and paper industry. There is an ongoing debate about the safety of talc, with thousands of lawsuits linking talc to ovarian cancer. Additionally, several talc products in the past contained traces of asbestos dust, stemming from their naturally occurring proximity to each other on the earth’s surface. Exposure Can Lead to Multiple Problems Asbestos exposure can lead to a number of serious health problems, including asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. The $22 million award comes in...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Alameda County asbestos exposure asbestos-contaminated talc Cashmere Bouquet Colgate-Palmolive Dexter Midland Chemical Imerys Talc America mesothelioma lawsuit Richard Booker Vanderbilt Minerals Walter N. Boysen Paint Source Type: news