March 29th, 2007

The family of a drywall taper who died from asbestos related disease has been awarded over eight hundred thousand dollars. A jury awarded the family nearly $369,000 in economic damages, and $500,000 in non-economic damages, bringing the total up to nearly $870,000 in total.

The victim, Douglas Ivance, died in 2003 after he suffered respiratory failure stemming from asbestos related health problems. The defendant in the case was Rich Tex Inc, and the jury found that the company’s products were defective in design. Mr. Ivance worked as a drywall taper, and exposure to asbestos resulted in the health problems that ultimately led to his death.

Mr. Ivance worked with a range of products that contained asbestos, and this included ceiling spray, spray texture, and joint compound. He used these products between 1963 and 1977. Exposure to asbestos can cause a range of problems including respiratory problems and scarring of the lungs. It can also cause a form of cancer known as mesothelioma, which is directly linked to asbestos exposure.