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Yager, et. al. v. John Crane, Inc.

Case Summary

Roy Yager was fifty-seven years of age when he died from mesotheliom on April 24, 2004. He served as a machinist mate on the USS Springfield from 1967 through 1971. He also worked as a machinist mate at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard from 1973 through 1995. Mr. Yager graduated first in his class at Great Lakes and knew his job and the naval equipment as well as any expert witness. After all of the remaining Navy equipment defendants settled before or early during trial, the trial preceeded only as to John Crane, Inc. for their manufacture and supply of gaskets and packing encountered by Mr. Yager aboard Navy vessels. Defense expert, James Delaney, estimated that only 50 to 300 pounds of gasket and packing material would have been used aboard the USS Springfield. He was then impeached with a navy document uncovered by the plaintiffs’ trial team indicating that the actual number was 16 tons.

Verdict

August 28, 2008
$3,949,735 total award
$3,250,000 general damages
$699,735 special damages

Case Information

Cause No. CGC 05-440678
Yager et. al. v. John Crane, Inc.
Trial length: 8 days Deliberation length: 2 days

Jurisdiction

San Francisco County, Calif, Superior Court, Dept. 514
Hon. Thomas Mellon, Presiding

Plaintiff’s Experts (live testimony)

Arnold Brody, M.D., cell biologist
David Fractor, Ph.D., economist
Samuel Hammar, M.D., pathologist

Defense Experts (live testimony)

Cmdr. James Delaney (U.S. Navy, ret.), Navy expert

Plaintiff’s Counsel

Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel, LLP
Brent J. Zadorozny (lead trial counsel) (LA)
Kenneth A. Lee (LA)
B. Scott Kruka (Dallas)

Defense Counsel

(John Crane, Inc.) Hassard Bonnington, LLP (San Fran.)
Robert L. Nelder
Anthony T. Topolsky

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.

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