Defense Verdict in Los Angeles

January 17, 2014 (Los Angeles, CA) – Hawkins Parnell & Young received a defense verdict for a client that manufactures fluid sealing devices. The plaintiff was a Missouri resident who had previously worked in California. He had pleural mesothelioma that he alleged was caused by asbestos exposure as a pipefitter at Todd Pacific Shipyard in Long Beach, Gulf Oil in Santa Fe Springs, and Unilever (Lever Bros) in Commerce. Although the plaintiff sued over 40 defendants, only two remained at the time of verdict.

Claire Weglarz of the firm’s Los Angeles office tried the case for HPY’s client. The Hon. Patrick T. Madden presided over the trial in Long Beach. At the end of closing argument, plaintiffs’ counsel (Brent Zadorozny of Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C.) urged the jury to award $20 million in compensatory damages.

After about four hours of deliberation, the ten woman and two man jury returned a defense verdict for both defendants. 

HPY’s experts included Dr. James Crapo and John Henshaw, CIH. Plaintiffs’ experts included Dr. Arnold Brody, Dr. James Dahlgren, and Charlie Ay.

Schildknegt v. Air & Liquid Systems Corporation, et al.