Mississippi Man Awarded Record Asbestos Compensation

Jackson, MSA jury recently awarded $322 million in asbestos compensation to a Mississippi man who sued Chevron Phillips Chemical and Union Carbide Corp. after he allegedly inhaled asbestos fibers while he mixed drilling mud.

The Associated Press reports that the asbestos attorney representing Thomas C. Brown said that he believes it is the largest asbestos verdict in US history.

According to the news source, the verdict was handed down recently in Smith County Circuit Court.

The attorney claimed that Brown was responsible for mixing drilling mud manufactured by the companies from 1979 to the mid-1980s, and allegedly developed asbestosis as a result. The suit claims that the products were designed with defects and that the companies did not give sufficient warnings about potential asbestos exposure to workers.

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, asbestosis is characterized by chest pain, shortness of breath and coughing.

The news source reports that the companies plan to appeal the verdict.

"The credible medical evidence introduced at trial clearly demonstrates that, while Mr. Brown suffers from shortness of breath, such condition is not attributable to asbestos exposure," read a statement to the news source from Union Carbide.