March 7th, 2006

A San Francisco jury has awarded over a million dollars in compensation to 60-year-old retired pipe fitter, Merle Sandy. Sandy suffered exposure to the carcinogenic and potential deadly substance asbestos when he performed industrial maintenance work at a site owned by Exxon Mobil Corp, the named defendant in the case. Sandy worked at the oil refiner in Benicia between 1970 and 1974 and again from 1977 to 1979.

Part of his duties included working with asbestos gaskets, removing insulation, and working with welding blankets. Sandy states that no advice or information was provided by the corporation with regards to protection against exposure to asbestos, and due to the nature of his duties he suffered high level and long term exposure that has had a real impact on his life.

Sandy now suffers from asbestosis as well as colon cancer. Although he has received operative treatment for his cancer, it has spread to other parts of the body. The asbestosis has left him with scarring of the lungs and makes it difficult for him to breathe, and this is a condition that cannot be cured.

Sandy claims that Exxon Mobil was also fully aware of the dangers posed by asbestos exposure, and yet continued to allow him to work with the substance without making him aware of this or providing him with any protection.