$3.5 Million in Damages Awarded to Illinois Mesothelioma Victim’s Family

Almost seven years after her husband was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a Chicago widow and her adult children heard a jury award them $3.5 million in damages. According to attorneys for Fred Riebel’s estate, BP, U.S. Steel, and others were aware of the dangers of asbestos but did little to protect him from breathing in its fibers.

Mesothelioma Jury Hears Details of Asbestos Exposure

Fred Riebel died just eighteen months after being diagnosed with the rare and fatal form of cancer. When his mesothelioma diagnosis came he immediately knew that it must have come from his work as an assistant to a journeyman insulator. In the mid-1980s he had worked at chemical facilities such as those owned by Amoco Corporation, and after that he worked at numerous industrial sites, refineries, and research facilities performing asbestos abatement tasks. 

According to his family’s complaint, site leaders for the companies named as defendants did little to protect Riebel from the dangers of malignant mesothelioma. Though the danger of asbestos was well known by the time he worked on their properties in the mid-1980s, the most protection he was offered was instruction to wear a paper dust mask, though even this was rarely provided.

Mesothelioma Attorneys Tell of Painful Death

The attorneys for the mesothelioma victim’s family were able to convince the jury both that the companies knew of asbestos’ dangers and that they could have done more to protect Mr. Riebel and save his wife and children the pain of his death. Commenting on the case, one family representative said, “The slow and painful death of Mr. Riebel is a tragic story that could have been written differently had these companies protected him from working around asbestos located at their premises. His widow and children witnessed what will remain with them the rest of their lives.”

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can connect you with the resources you need to find justice. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608.

Written by Terri Oppenheimer

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer is the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in English. Terri believes that knowledge is power and she is committed to sharing news about the impact of mesothelioma, the latest research and medical breakthroughs, and victims’ stories.

Learn more about and contact Terri