Forman Perry Prevails in Mississippi Asbestos Exposure Trial

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

FORMAN PERRY PREVAILS IN MISSISSIPPI ASBESTOS EXPOSURE TRIAL

Forman Perry Watkins Krutz & Tardy LLP won a "take-nothing" defense verdict in a Mississippi asbestos exposure lawsuit on behalf of Houston-based Union Carbide Corporation.

Plaintiff sued the companies in 2006 claiming health problems resulting from alleged exposure to asbestos while working in oilfields located throughout the southeastern United States between 1965 and 1986.

Following a two-week trial before Judge Billy Joe Landrum in Jones County Circuit Court, jurors returned a take-nothing verdict for Union Carbide, rejecting each of the plaintiff's claims of negligence, strict liability, design defect, inadequate warning, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The verdict was delivered Sept. 9.

"We are very pleased about the jurors' careful consideration of the facts in this case," said Marcy B. Croft, lead counsel from the Forman Perry defense team representing Union Carbide, who worked in conjunction with National Trial Counsel from Baker Botts, LLP, and from Hartline, Dacus, Barger, Dryer & Kern, LLP. "We maintained from day one that our client acted responsibly, and this verdict is proof."