Record $322 Million Dollar Verdict in Mississippi Asbestos Case

RALEIGH, Miss., May 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- In the Circuit Court of Smith County, Mississippi, a jury awarded the single largest plaintiff's asbestos verdict in United States history in the Civil Action No. 2006-196 against Chevron Phillips Chemical (CP Chem) and Union Carbide Corporation.  Thomas "Tony" Brown, Jr., 48, of Brookhaven, Mississippi was awarded $322 million dollars for future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. Mr. Brown was represented by Allen Hossley, Dawn Smith, and Ray Turcotte of the Hossley Embry law firm, from Dallas, Texas and along with Gene Tullos and Gary King of Tullos & Tullos from Raleigh, Mississippi.

Brown worked in the oil fields of Mississippi from 1979 to the mid 80's, as a roughneck mixing drilling mud on drilling rigs in Mississippi and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.   Brown's attorney, Allen Hossley says, "Brown inhaled asbestos dust while mixing drilling mud sold by CP Chem and manufactured by Union Carbide.  Although the asbestos was known to cause cancer and lung disease, CP Chem and Union Carbide continued to market these almost 100% pure asbestos products long after they knew the dangers." A Mississippi jury found that CP Chem and Union Carbide were liable to Mr. Brown for defectively designing their product and failure to provide an adequate warning.  

Mr. Brown was diagnosed with asbestosis and is currently on oxygen 24-hours a day.  Asbestosis is a debilitating lung disease caused by asbestos exposure and induces lung scarring and shortness of breath, which progresses over time.   Exposure to asbestos can cause cancer and death.

Allen Hossley of Hossley Embry said, "Many industrial companies like CP Chem and Union Carbide put innocent workers at an extreme health risk just to insure greater profits.  It's my commitment to make sure that these irresponsible companies are held accountable to the lives and families that they have destroyed.  Despite stronger regulations, many people are still suffering the lasting effects from asbestos exposure," said Hossley.  Tony was unable to read and write when he started working in oil fields as a floor hand at age 16 and Defendants argued that because Tony couldn't read, he didn't deserve protection under Mississippi's statue requiring Defendants to warn the oil-field workers about the known dangers of their asbestos drilling products.  "The jury's verdict made it clear that the people of Mississippi think that everyone, including the young men entering the work force that can't read, deserve equal protection under Mississippi law," said Dawn Smith.

About Hossley Embry:

Hossley Embry specializes in complex civil litigation including commercial, personal injury, civil rights and class actions. Hossley Embry features a diverse group of attorneys with an extraordinary track record of success in jury verdicts, awards and settlements.  For more information, please visit www.hossleyembry.com.

Parties:

Plaintiff, Thomas Brown, was represented by Allen Hossley of Hossley Embry from Tyler, Texas and Dawn Smith of Hossley Embry from Dallas, Texas, Gene Tullos and Gary King of Tullos & Tullos from Raleigh Mississippi, and Bob Hammond of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Representing Defendant CP Chem was Alex Cosculluela of Adams and Reese from Houston, Texas, Jeffrey Trotter of Adams and Reese from Jackson, Mississippi, Robert Johnson of Natchez, Mississippi and David Garner from Raleigh, Mississippi.  

Representing Defendant Union Carbide was Michael Terry of Hartline, Dacus Barger Dreyer, LLP of Corpus Christi, Texas and Marcy Croft of Forman Perry Watkins Krutz & Tardy from Jackson, Mississippi.

SOURCE Hossley Embry