An Erie County jury in Buffalo, New York has ordered a former supplier of asbestos-ridden control valves and control packing to pay $1.5 million in damages to a repair man who passed away from the asbestos-related illness mesothelioma.
Ronald Drabczyk repaired control valves manufactured by Fisher controls International, a division of Emerson Electric, which contained asbestos gaskets and packing. Drabczyk was a repair man for 18 years and passed away at the age of 70 on November 29, 2005, nine years after his retirement from the Niagara Falls plant.
The six-week trial culminated with the jury deciding that the St. Louis-based Corporation was negligent and accountable for the fatal consequences in distributing its products with no prior information or labeling about its asbestos-containing materials. During the trial, it was established that Fisher Controls was aware of the dangers surrounding asbestos as early as 1946, but failed to include any warnings on their products.
asbestos use was widespread during the early part of the 20th century, when it was commonly used in pipes, gaskets, ceilings, drywall and flooring. The mineral’s innate resistance to fire and its highly durable qualities made it an ideal choice for manufacturers.
Many companies producing construction materials that once contained asbestos began to phase out use of the mineral in 1977, when the public became more aware of the dangers associated with asbestos. At the time,workers in construction, repair and industrial positions were frequently placed at risk of asbestos exposure.
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare, but highly aggressive illness caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are reported every year in the United States alone, while 10,000 are reported worldwide. When asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they can accumulate and cause inflammation and DNA damage. asbestos exposure has also been linked to many other diseases, such as colon and gastrointestinal cancer.
Officials from the Buffalo court stated the verdict, which also included a $750,000 punitive damages award to Mr. Drabczyk’s family, was the first time a corporation has been held 100 percent financially responsible for a wrongful death in a New York State asbestos hearing in more than 20 years.
Additional information about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure may be found through the mesothelioma Cancer Center.