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Golik et. al. v. CBS et. al.

Case Fact Sheet

Family of 66-Year-Old Paper Mill Worker Receives $3.96 Million Asbestos Verdict

Case Summary

On December 18, 2014, A Portland jury awarded $3.96 million to the family of 66-year-old Robert Golik, an Army veteran and former insulation worker who died of malignant mesothelioma. Golik was exposed to asbestos while working as an insulation helper at Pacific Northwest paper mills operated by Weyerhaeuser Company, Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products (Camas), LLC and Longview Fibre Paper and Packaging, Inc., all named as defendants in the case. The defendants did little to dispute evidence establishing that the hazards of working with asbestos were well known and that the defendants did nothing to warn or protect workers like Mr. Golik from those hazards. The defendants will receive a credit for the amounts already paid in settlement to the Golik family by other companies.

Verdict

December 18, 2014
$3,957,672.70 total award:
$91,008.70 economic damages
$3,866,664 non-economic damages
defendants will receive credit for settlements already paid to Golik family by other defendants

Significance

Found liability on premises owners for harm caused by the installation of asbestos-containing materials on their property

Case Information

Cause No. 1308-11192 Alice J. Golik, Individually and as Representative of the Estate of Robert J. Golik v. CBS Corporation, et al
Trial length: 9 days Deliberation Length: 8 hours

Jurisdiction

Circuit Court of the State of Oregon; County of Multnomah
Hon. Karin Immergut, presiding

Plaintiffs Experts (live testimony)

Dr. Carl A. Brodkin, Occupational Medicine Physician

Defense Experts (live testimony)

Robert Adams, CIH

Plaintiffs’ Counsel

Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel
David Bricker (lead trial counsel) – Los Angeles
R. Walker Humphrey, II – Dallas
Michael Connett – Los Angeles

Defense Counsel

(Georgia-Pacific) Sedgwick, LLP, Seattle, WA
Maria Karos, Brian Zeringer
(Longview Fibre) Perkins Coie, LLP, Portland, OR
Jim Gidley, Gabrielle Richards
(Weyerhaeuser) Forman Perry Watkins Krutz & Tardy, LLP, Jackson, MS
Joshua Metcalf, Nick Giallourakis

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

To learn more about our national plaintiffs’ attorneys or the law firm’s resources or to have a Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel attorney review your potential case, call 800.226.9880 or email us.

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That’s the first question everyone asks. The truth is it’s impossible to know. But we can tell you this. Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel has what it takes to fight against big corporate interests and win. That’s why we’ve taken more mesothelioma trials to verdict than any other firm. And that’s why we’ve recovered more than $1.3 billion for clients like you. Do you think you have a case? Contact us now to speak with an attorney.

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