June 12th, 2007

A New Jersey firm has been ordered to pay over five million dollars in an asbestos exposure case by a jury. The jury concluded that the firm acted with malice when the verdict was reached last week, and as a result the company was ordered to pay $5.2 million.

The company Foster Wheeler Corp. was ordered to pay the compensation to the family of Richard Walmach. He died in 2006 after being diagnosed with the asbestos related cancer known as mesothelioma. He worked as a career naval machinist.

Mr. Walmach had filed the lawsuit before he passed away. He claimed that the company was aware of the dangers of asbestos exposure but failed to disclose this information. Foster Wheeler Corp. supplies a range of equipment to the US Navy, including steam generators and boilers.

Although the company has been sued before, and has been found liable for over one hundred million dollars worth of damages, this is the first time that the amount awarded has included punitive damages according to reports.