November 22nd, 2006

Over $3 million in compensatory damages has been awarded to the estate of a Montgomery pottery shop operator, who died in 2004 from an asbestos related cancer. The New Brunswick Superior Court jury awarded a total of $3.35 million to the estate of Peter Hirsch by way of compensation.

Hirsch died at the age of 53 having been diagnosed with the asbestos related cancer, known as mesothelioma, just a year and a half earlier. Bonnie Parker, his widow, then filed a lawsuit through her New York attorney.

According to the lawsuit, as part of his work the deceased had used talc, which was mined by RT Vanderbilt and Co, and was sold by Hammill & Gillespie. The lawsuit alleges that this talc contained asbestos, which resulted in Hirsch’s exposure and subsequent contraction of the asbestos related cancer.

According to the prosecuting attorney this was the first verdict of its kind in the US in relation to industrial talc, and he stated: "This first-ever U.S. verdict finally - and decisively - proves that industrial talc from Vanderbilt's New York State mines contains lethal asbestos fibers. New Jersey jurors have sent out a powerful, clear message to Vanderbilt and other companies that mine, mill or market industrial talc. Not only must their own workers be protected from lung disease, end users and others who come into contact with the product must be warned properly of the carcinogenic fibers lurking in this dusty powder used in so many manufacturing applications."