Selected Case Results
Jury Returns $5 Million Verdict In Cancer Lawsuit
James Wylder and Andrew Kelly of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP represented the family of Willard “Bill” Krumwiede, who died of mesothelioma. In a two-week trial, the jury found in favor of the Krumwiede family and against defendant, Tremco Incorporated, for $5,063,324.52.
Bill worked as a union glazier from 1956 into the 1990s and the evidence revealed he used Tremco’s 440 tape and Mono caulking in his occupation. The jury found Tremco had knowledge of the hazards of asbestos and negligently failed to warn about those hazards.
Estate Of Laura Powell Awarded $290,000 By Jury In Medical Negligence Verdict
Lisa Corwin and Chip Corwin of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP were the lawyers representing the Estate of Laura Alice Powell, deceased, in a jury trial against Dr. Victor Eloy, a gastroenterologist. The jury returned damages of $290,000 in favor of the Estate and against Dr. Eloy.
The jury found Dr. Eloy’s negligence was a cause of Laura’s premature death as a result of esophageal varices.
Jury Returns $4.6 Million Verdict In Favor Of Worker With Mesothelioma Exposed To Asbestos In Welding Rods
James Wylder and Andrew Kelly of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP, in a 2-week trial, obtained a jury verdict in favor of Charles McKinney and against Hobart Brothers Company in the amount of $4,600,000.00.
Charles McKinney was exposed to asbestos from Hobart Brothers Company 6010 stick welding electrodes and later developed mesothelioma, a cancer caused solely by exposure to asbestos. The jury found the Hobart Brothers Company had knowledge of the hazards of asbestos and negligently failed to warn about the hazards of the asbestos in the flux of its welding stick electrodes.
Jury Awards $3.1 Million To Estate Of Former Railroad Worker Exposed To Asbestos Who Died Of Lung Cancer
James Wylder and Lisa Corwin of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP, in a 3-week trial, obtained a jury verdict in favor of the Estate of Paul McGowan, deceased, and against the Illinois Central Railroad Company in the amount of $3,107,250.00.
Paul was exposed to asbestos materials when he worked for the railroad from 1956 to 1993. The jury found the railroad had knowledge of the hazards of asbestos and negligently failed to warn Paul McGowan about the hazards of asbestos, including failure to provide a reasonably safe work environment. The jury further found that the railroad’s negligence in failing to protect Paul McGowan from asbestos exposure was a cause of his lung cancer and death.
Jury Returns Verdict Of $218,350 In Favor Of Man Battered By Bouncers
Steve Wood of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP, obtained a jury verdict in favor of Austin Schmeisser and against Defendant, Europe, Inc. (“Chasers”), in the amount of $218,350 of which $200,000 was awarded as punitive damages. The jury found Chasers guilty of negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, and battery against Austin Schmeisser when he was taken into a stairwell and battered by Chasers’ bouncers while a patron of that establishment.
Two Former Railroad Workers Awarded Over $1.7 Million In FELA Claims For Asbestos Disease
James Wylder and Lisa Corwin of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP, in a 3-week trial, obtained a jury verdict on behalf of two plaintiffs, Jim Smith and Mary Hernandez, Administrator of the Estate of John Nafziger where the jury found in favor of the plaintiffs and against the defendant, Illinois Central Railroad Company for a $1,371,184.05 (Smith) and $384,146.98 (Nafziger).
The jury found the railroad had knowledge of the hazards of asbestos and negligently failed to warn Smith and Nafziger about the hazards of asbestos when they worked for the railroad in the 1950s and into the 1970s. The jury further found the railroad’s negligence in failing to protect Jim Smith and John Nafziger from asbestos exposure was a cause of their development of asbestosis, and in the case of John Nafziger, his lung cancer and death.
Estate Of Railroad Worker Awarded $1.4 Million In Asbestos FELA Action
James Wylder and Andrew Kelly of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP, in a 2-week trial, obtained a verdict in favor or Jane Lilienthal, Administrator of the Estate of Jake Lilienthal, deceased in the amount of $1,443,810.53 against defendant, Illinois Central Railroad Company.
The jury found the railroad had knowledge of the hazards of asbestos and negligently failed to warn Jake Lilienthal about the hazards of asbestos, including failure to provide a reasonably safe work environment when he worked for the railroad from 1957-1972. The jury further found the railroad’s negligence was a cause of his development of asbestosis, lung cancer, and death.
Honeywell Sanctioned For Violating The Illinois Supreme Court Rules; Jurors Award $4.3 Million
James Wylder and Lisa Corwin of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP represented Vicki Hoogerwerf, widow of John Hoogerwerf, in a damages-only trial against defendant, Honeywell International, Inc. and received a verdict of $4,320,000.
At the beginning of the trial, Honeywell was defaulted due to its violation of Illinois Supreme Court rules. The jury assessed damages in the amount of $300,000 to Vicki Hoogerwerf, individually, for her damages during her husband’s lifetime. The jury assessed damages in the amount of $4,020,000.00 to the estate of John Hoogerwerf, for his injuries and wrongful death from lung cancer at the age of 53. John was a union insulator who had worked throughout central Illinois.
McLean County Jury Awards $89.6 Million In Asbestos Suit
James Wylder and Andrew Kelly of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP, in a five-week trial, obtained a verdict on behalf of Charles Gillenwater in the amount of $89,600,000 against defendants Honeywell International, Inc., Pneumo Abex, LLC, Owens-Illinois, Inc. and John Crane, Inc.
The jury assessed compensatory damages in the amount of $9,600,000 against all four defendants and assessed punitive damages against defendants, Honeywell International, Inc. and Pneumo Abex LLC each in the amount of $20,000,000, and against defendant Owens-Illinois, Inc. in the amount of $40,000,000.
Gillenwater contracted mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos as a pipefitter in the 1970s at job sites in Central Illinois. The jury found Defendants, Honeywell International, Inc., Pneumo Abex, LLC, and Owens-Illinois, Inc., conspired with other companies to suppress information about the hazards of asbestos, including an agreement not to warn their employees and customers about the hazards of asbestos.
$17 Million Jury Verdict For Mesothelioma Victim
James Wylder and Lisa Corwin of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP obtained a verdict in the amount of $17,870,000 in favor of Jayne Menssen, and against defendants Pneumo Abex, LLC, and Honeywell International, Inc. assessing compensatory damages in the amount of $3,500,000 and punitive damages in the amount of $4,370,000 (Pneumo Abex), and $10,000,000 (Honeywell).
Jayne Menssen contracted mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos when she worked as a secretary at Union Asbestos & Rubber Company (UNARCO) from 1967-1969. Menssen was never warned of the dangers of asbestos and the jury found the defendants conspired with other companies, including UNARCO, to suppress information about the hazards of asbestos, including an agreement not to warn their employees and customers about the hazards of asbestos.
Families Of Former UNARCO Workers Awarded $5.5 Million By Mclean County Jury
James Wylder and Lisa Corwin of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP obtained a $5,564,000 verdict on behalf of the families of Merlon Dukes, Bob Blessing and John Watkins, all of whom formerly worked at UNARCO in the 1950s and 1960s, and all of whom developed mesothelioma.
The jury found defendant, Honeywell International, Inc. conspired with other companies, including UNARCO, to fail to disclose information about the hazards of asbestos, including an agreement not to warn their employees and customers. The jury Honeywell’s participation in the conspiracy was a cause of their development of mesothelioma and eventual deaths.
Former UNARCO Worker’s Family Awarded $2.5 Million By Mclean County Jury
James Wylder and Lisa Corwin of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP, in a 3-week trial, obtained a verdict in favor of Juanita Rodarmel and against Pneumo Abex, LLC, and Honeywell International, Inc. in the amount of $2,500,000. The verdict represented both compensatory damages in the amount of $2,000,000 and punitive damages in the amount of $100,000 (Pneumo Abex) and $400,000 (Honeywell).
Juanita Rodarmel contracted mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos when she laundered the clothing of her first husband, Leslie Corry, who worked at UNARCO. The jury found defendants, conspired with other companies, including UNARCO, to fail to provide information about the hazards of asbestos, including information to employees and customers.
Former UNARCO Worker’s Family Awarded $2.6 Million By Mclean County Jury
James Wylder and Lisa Corwin of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP, in a 3-week trial, obtained a verdict of $2,632,611.66 against defendants, Pneumo Abex, LLC, and Honeywell International, Inc. in favor of the family of Jean Holmes who developed mesothelioma from laundering the clothing of her husband, Don Holmes, who worked at UNARCO from 1962 and 1963. Neither Holmes nor her husband were never warned of the dangers of asbestos.
The jury found defendants conspired with other companies, including UNARCO, to suppress information about the hazards of asbestos, including an agreement not to warn their employees and customers about the hazards of asbestos.
$1 Million Verdict For Family Of Insulator In Conspiracy Case
James Wylder and Lisa Corwin of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP obtained a $1,000,000 verdict against Honeywell International, Inc. on behalf of the family of Edward Hill, who died from lung cancer on August 24, 2003. Ed Hill was exposed to asbestos while working as an insulator from 1947-1981. The jury found the company conspired with other companies who knew of the dangers of exposure to asbestos as early as the 1930s, and agreed to conceal information about the hazard so they could continue to profit from the manufacture and sale of asbestos-containing products.
$6.52 Million Settlement
For man with mesothelioma who worked at automotive repair shops and steel mills.
$6.51 Million Settlement
For plumber/pipefitter with mesothelioma.
$6.28 Million Settlement
For man who has mesothelioma and both he and his parents worked at central Illinois factory.
$5.6 Million Settlement
For factory worker, mechanic, and carpenter with mesothelioma whose father was welder.
$4.65 Million Settlement
For factory worker who died from mesothelioma.
$4.37 Million Settlement
For Navy veteran with lung cancer who worked as a mechanic.
$4.125 Million Settlement
For employee who had bystander exposure to mechanics working.
$4.54 Million Settlement
For woman who developed mesothelioma from father’s work as a shade tree mechanic and factory work.
$4.195 Million Settlement
For woman who developed lung cancer due to exposures from her family members, who worked as insulators at power plants.
$1.55 Million Settlement
For family of Merchant Marine sailor who developed asbestosis from work on freighters.
$1.525 Million Settlement
For truck and auto mechanic who developed laryngeal cancer.
$1.5 Million Settlement
For man with renal cancer due to auto maintenance and plumber/pipefitter work at foundry and other locations.
$2.31 Million Settlement
For plumber/pipefitter with esophageal cancer who worked at factories.
$1.12 Million Settlement
For pipefitter who developed asbestosis from work at various plants, factories, and power houses.
$1.115 Million Settlement
For worker who developed asbestosis from exposure at factories