Virginia Lawyers Weekly Names $25M Asbestos Verdict Among Largest of 2011

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Virginia Lawyers Weekly has named the $25 million asbestos verdict recovered by Patten, Wornom, Hatten and Diamonstein as one of the largest in the state for 2011. The suit involved a former ship repair supervisor who contracted mesothelioma nearly 30 years after working on oil tankers owned by Exxon Mobil Corp. According to the plaintiff, exposure to asbestos while aboard the oil tankers caused the deadly disease. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that Exxon Mobil was aware of the dangers of asbestos exposure at the time and should be held liable for the resulting asbestos-related disease. The jury concurred, returning $12.5 million in compensatory damages and punitive damages to match. The $25 million verdict was the fifth largest Virginia verdict in 2011.

View Virginia Lawyers Weekly’s Largest Verdicts of 2011.

THE VIRGINIA STATE BAR RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT REQUIRE ALL ATTORNEYS TO MAKE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT AND DISCLAIMER TO THEIR CASE RESULTS. SETTLEMENT AND VERDICT IN ALL CASES DEPEND ON VARIOUS FACTORS AND CIRCUMSTANCES, WHICH ARE UNIQUE TO EACH CASE. THEREFORE, PAST RESULTS IN CASES ARE NOT A GUARANTEE OR PREDICTION OF SIMILAR RESULTS IN FUTURE CASES WHICH PATTEN, WORNOM, HATTEN & DIAMONSTEIN AND ITS LAWYERS MAY UNDERTAKE.