James Wylder and Andrew Kelly of the Bloomington law firm Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP were the lawyers representing Colfax resident, Charles McKinney, in a 2-week trial in which a McLean County jury returned a verdict. The jury found in favor of Charles McKinney against Hobart Brothers Company and returned damages in the amount of $4,600,000.00.
At age 19, upon his graduation from Octavia High School, Charles McKinney worked at Portable Elevator Company in Bloomington and was exposed to asbestos from Hobart Brothers Company 6010 stick welding electrodes. Charles McKinney developed mesothelioma, a cancer caused solely by exposure to asbestos. The jury received evidence that mesothelioma is an incurable and fatal cancer.
The case was filed in McLean County Circuit Court. The jury found the Hobart Brothers Company had knowledge of the hazards of asbestos and negligently failed to warn Charles McKinney about the hazards of the asbestos in the flux of its welding stick electrodes.
The 2-week trial was held in McLean County in front of Judge Rebecca Foley. The jury deliberated for approximately 6 hours.