Evans v. A.W. Chesterton Company

VERDICT

Trial
04/01/10 – 04/29/10

Summary

Evans v. A.W. Chesterton is an asbestos mesothelioma case involving CertainTeed and the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (DWP).

Rhoda Evans allegedly was exposed to asbestos, which resulted in mesothelioma, when she washed her husband's clothes. Her husband cut asbestos concrete pipes every day for the Los Angeles DWP, and as a result of this occupational exposure allegedly brought home asbestos dust and microscopic asbestos fibers on his clothes at the end of every work day for 20 years, starting in 1973.

Acccording to the plaintiff, the DWP did not know about the risk from asbestos, but the pipe supplier, CertainTeed, did know of the risk, but concealed that risk from the DWP to protect $40M in annual asbestos cement pipe revenue that would be lost if the DWP switched to safer, non-asbestos containing pipes.

The defense argued that the plaintiff's mesothelioma was idiopathic, and that CertainTeed acted responsibly, and took steps to minimize exposure by providing safety manuals to DWP, and that it was DWP that failed to ensure the safety of its employees.

The jury awarded compensatory damages in excess of $8M, and punitive damages of $200M.

Visit the CVN blog for more about Evans v. A.W. Chesterton or other asbestos litigation.

View a free video clip from the case:
Plaintiff's opening statement -- Clip 1

Outcome

Fault: Certain Teed-70%, DWP-30%
Rhoda Evans:
Medical Expenses: Past-125.000, Future-200,000
Future loss earnings: 96,015
Household Services: 400,000
Non-Economic Damages: 6,000,000
6.821.015.00
Bobby Evans:
Loss of Consortium: 2,000,000
Punitive Damages to Certain Teed: 200,000,000

Case Information
Attorneys
Witnesses
Plaintiff
Defense
Verdict
$208,821,015
Judge
Conrad Aragon
Jurisdiction
Superior Court of California, Los Angeles
Court
Stanley Mosk Courthouse
Case Number
BC418867
Industry
Asbestos, Energy
Practice Area
Asbestos, Tort Law, Toxic Torts, Products Liability
Plaintiff
Evans, Rhonda
Defense
A.W. Chesterton Company
Defense
City of Los Angeles
Expert Witnesses
Lay Witnesses

Sessions

APR
1
APR
2
APR
5
APR
6
APR
7
APR
8
APR
9
APR
12
AM Session
Not in Session
0 Chapters
PM Session
Not in Session
0 Chapters
APR
13
AM Session
Plaintiff Witness(es)
3 Chapters
AM Session
Plaintiff Witness(es)
3 Chapters
APR
14
PM Session
Not in Session
0 Chapters
APR
15
AM Session
Not in Session
0 Chapters
PM Session
Not in Session
0 Chapters
APR
16
PM Session
Defense Witness(es)
3 Chapters
APR
19
APR
20
AM Session
Not in Session
0 Chapters
PM Session
Not in Session
0 Chapters
APR
21
APR
22
PM Session
Not in Session
0 Chapters
APR
23
APR
26
AM Session
Other
3 Chapters
PM Session
Not in Session
0 Chapters
APR
27
PM Session
Not in Session
0 Chapters
APR
28
APR
29

Recording Disclaimer: This proceeding was recorded in full.

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