New Jersey Court Upholds $30.3 Million Mesothelioma Verdict

New York, NY: A unanimous decision issued on April 5, 2010 by the New Jersey Appellate Division has upheld a $30.3 million jury award in the New Jersey asbestos lawsuit filed by Susan M. Buttitta, both individually and on behalf of the estate of her late-husband Mark Buttitta. Mr. Buttitta died of mesothelioma, a rare and fatal cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The jury verdict is the largest mesothelioma award in the long-history of New Jersey Asbestos litigation.

According to the published opinion, Mr. Buttitta was exposed to asbestos in the workplace during the 1970s when he was employed at warehouses that distributed asbestos-containing materials including brakes and clutches. He worked as a "parts picker" which required him to handle asbestos products and sweep up dust that contained asbestos. The landmark mesothelioma verdict was decided against a supplier of asbestos fiber, which was incorporated into automotive parts, and the manufacturer of automotive clutch products that contained asbestos.