The use of asbestos has been banned in the United States for about two decades, according to FindLaw, due to its tendency to cause an especially malignant form of lung cancer and other illnesses. But asbestos-related lawsuits persist to this day because it often takes decades for those exposed to develop an illness.
In fact, there are countless Chicago injury lawyers who actually specialize in such cases of asbestos illnesses.
The dark history of the industrial use of asbestos for its flame-resistant qualities by manufacturers of building materials was recounted in a McLean County case that recently ended in a mistrial, the St. Clair Record reported. Ultimately, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous decision after three days of intense deliberations.
Illinois injury attorneys for plaintiffs Larry Dunham and Norman Shoopman unsuccessfully based their case on a conspiracy claim against the primary manufacturers of the asbestos-laden products, claiming they concealed its dangers.
Larry Dunham worked as a Springfield firefighter and Norman Shoopman was a teacher in Bloomington. Both men suffered from mesothelioma, the particular form of lung cancer associated with asbestos exposure. They had sought damages from Pneumo Abex, Honeywell and Owens-Illinois for what they believed was a decades-long conspiracy to keep the public misinformed about the risks involved with using asbestos.
The two trials were consolidated on May 27 by McLean County Circuit Judge Michael Prall for the sake of efficiency, since both suits contained similar allegations against the same defendants. Attorneys James Wylder and Lisa Corwin already have won nine verdicts in six years in similar cases, totaling more than $40 million in damages.
Honeywell lawyer Colleen Baime argued that it would be impossible to single out the exact location of the plaintiffs' exposure, but that hasn't mattered in prior cases.
Related Resources:
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Asbestos Overview (FindLaw)
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Consult with an Illinois Injury Attorney (FindLaw)
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Record $250M Payment in Asbestos Case (FindLaw's Common Law Blog)
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