May 31st, 2005

A Madison County man who contracted an asbestos-related cancer from products containing asbestos has been awarded $500,000 by a jury in an asbestos trial. Mr. King claimed that his asbestos related cancer – known as mesothelioma – resulted from the use of products made by Bondex International, RPM Inc. and Georgia-Pacific Corp. However, before this latest trial, attended by Mr King and his wife, the couple had already claimed more than $500,000 in court settlements with other defendants.

Under Illinois law, any such previously received damages are subtracted from an award made in courts, and therefore although Mr King, aged 77, was officially awarded the half of a million dollars in damages the defendant won’t have to pay a cent because Mr King has already claimed over that amount with other defendants. The defense attorney’s were quite ecstatic with this outcome.

Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer caused by long-term or high level exposure to asbestos dust and fibers. There is currently no cure for this cancer, which can affect the heart, lungs, or abdominal regions. The lifespan of sufferers can be reduced to a matter of months from the onset of the symptoms, but the symptoms can take many decades to manifest from the exposure to asbestos.