Defense Verdict for HPY Client in Career Drywall Worker Wrongful Death Case

January 2, 2019 – Press Release

January 2, 2019 (Chicago, IL) – Hawkins Parnell & Young partners David C. Marshall and Catherine E. Goldhaber successfully defended their joint compound client in a Cook County wrongful death trial. Plaintiff asked the jury for over $25 million at close of the seven-day trial. A defense verdict was returned in less than three hours.

Plaintiff alleged that her husband’s mesothelioma and resultant death at age 72 resulted in part from four months of use of defendant’s joint compound, and three other brands, in Chicago in 1965. The decedent was a career drywaller who, aside for a few years in the Midwest, worked most of his life in Alabama.

Plaintiff called pathologist B. Staggs, MD, M. Finkelstein DFCM, and historian G. Markowitz, PhD. Defense called a toxicologist and occupational safety and health specialist, and forensic pathologist. The Honorable Clare E. McWilliams presided over the trial.

Plaintiff was represented by Baron & Budd and Cooney & Conway.

Marshall and Goldhaber were assisted by Steven B. Moore with Rasmussen Dickey & Moore.