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Baccus v. Bondex International, et. al.

Case Summary

James Baccus served as a Navy machinist mate performing heavy maintenance in the engine rooms aboard the USS Block Island and USS Wasp from 1951-1955. From 1957-1977, he was employed by American Synthetic Rubber Company in Kentucky, where he worked as a machinist, technician, and manintenance general foreman. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in January 2007 and died in July 2007. The jury rejected the defense arguments that the type of asbestos (chrysotile) contained in their products did not cause cancer.

Verdict

March 14, 2008
$25.2M award: $7.0M compensatory; $18.2M punitive
Compensatory: $2.5M for wrongful death; $3.5M for loss of consortium; $1.0M for economic loss
Punitive (gross negligence): Crane Co., $11.9M; Yarway, $6.3M
Remaining 3 defendants in the case assigned 100% liability: Crane Co., 35%; John Crane, Inc., 45%; Yarway, 20%

Significance

One of Philadelphia County’s largest-ever asbestos awards
Reverse bifurcated trial; judge granted defense motion that Kentucky law to be applied to the liability and punitive phases. Jury found 100% liability for remaining 3 defendants, and gross negligence against Crane and Yarway.

Case Information

Case No. 001063
Baccus v. Bondex International, et. al.
Trial length: Phase I – 1 week; Phase II/III – 5 weeks

Jurisdiction

Philadelphia County, Pa., Court of common Pleas
Hon. James Murray Lynn, presiding

Plaintiff’s Experts (*live testimony; ^deposition)

*^John Maddox, M.D., pathologist
*Capt. Frank burger (U.S. Navy, ret.), Navy expert
*Steven Paskal, corporate industrial hygienist

Defense Experts (live testimony)

James Crapo, M.D., pulmonologist
Cmdr. James Delaney (U.S. Navy, ret.), Navy expert
Adm. David P. Sargeant, Jr. (U.S. Navy, ret.), Navy expert
Michael J. Matteson, Ph.D, aerosol technology expert
Charles Blake, CIH, industrial hygienist
Samuel Forman, M.D., occupational medicine

Plaintiff’s Counsel

Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel, LLP (Dallas, Baltimore):
Troyce G. Wolf (lead)
Demetrios T. Zacharopoulos

Shein Law Center (Phila.):
Benjamin P. Shein
Bethann Schaffzin

Defense Counsel

(Crane) K&L Gates (Pittsburgh):
Terry Budd

(John Crane) O’Connell Miller Tivin & Burns (Elgin, Ill):
John Thomas Burns

(Yarway) Morgan, Lewis & Bockius (Phila., Los Angeles):
James BelBello
Daffodil Tyminski

Disclaimer: Results obtained depend on the facts of each case. Award amounts are not actual cash amounts received by plaintiffs. Deductions are made for liens, attorney fees and expenses.

What are my chances?

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