Defense Verdict in San Francisco Toxic Tort Trial

October 13, 2016 – Press Release

October 13, 2016 (San Francisco, CA) – Hawkins Parnell & Young, a national litigation firm, secured a defense verdict in California for a sealing product manufacturer, which was the only remaining defendant at trial. HPY's client was represented by Bill D. Fountain from the San Francisco office. 

Plaintiffs claimed James Angus' asbestos-related lung cancer and asbestosis were caused by his work with valve and pump packing during his 19 years of service in the U.S. Navy as a boiler tender aboard several ships. In closing arguments, Plaintiffs asked the jury to award 6.5 million dollars in damages.  

The California Superior Court for San Francisco County jury reached a verdict in favor of our client in a matter of hours, rejecting allegations of negligence and strict liability. The Honorable Richard B. Ulmer presided over the three-week trial.

Plaintiffs James and Juana Angus were represented by Stephen J. Healey in association with the Brayton Purcell law firm.  

Testifying on behalf of the plaintiffs were Dr. Richard Cohen (state of art), Steven Compton, Ph.D. (materials science), Dr. Richard Sobonya (pathology), Dr. Barry Horn (pulmonology), Christopher DePasquale, CIH (industrial hygiene), Dr. Daniel Powers (radiology), and Barry Ben-Zion, Ph.D. (economics). Plaintiffs also called our client’s corporate representative to testify in their case-in-chief. 

Testifying on behalf of the defense was John Henshaw, CIH (industrial hygiene), Dr. David Weill (pulmonology), Dr. Victor Roggli (pathology), and Ret. Comm. Thomas McCaffery (Naval researcher).