Jury Awards 4.3 million to Pipefitter in Lung Cancer and Asbestosis Case
A Los Angeles jury awarded 4.3 million to Mr. Glade Cookus for his economic and noneconomic damages along with a finding for punitive damages.
Mr. Cookus was a pipefitter who installed water lines in and around Palos Verdes, California. On a daily basis, Mr. Cookus, laid asbestos cement pipe, a process which required handling, cutting, milling and beveling such pipe. Due to his exposure to asbestos in the pipes Mr. Cookus developed asbestosis and lung cancer. Calaveras Asbestos Limited was a supplier of asbestos to the pipe manufacturer. The jury found Calaveras Asbestos Limited negligent for failing to warn of the dangers of asbestos.
Expert witnesses for Mr. Cookus included pathologist, Dr. Samuel Hammar, pathologist and pulmonologist Dr. Arnold Brody, medical state of the art expert, Richard Cohen, economist, Robert Johnson, materials specialist, John Templin and Dr. Robert Fallet.