Skip to content
Mesothelioma.net
phone iconCall1-800-692-8608 chat icon Chat 24/7 Live Chat
Menu
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
    • About Mesothelioma
      • How to Survive Mesothelioma
      • 100 Questions & Answers about Mesothelioma (Free Book)
      • Symptoms
      • Diagnosis
      • Prognosis
      • Life Expectancy
    • Types
      • Pleural
      • Peritoneal
      • Epithelioid
      • Sarcomatoid
      • Biphasic
    • Stages
      • Stage 1
      • Stage 2
      • Stage 3
      • Stage 4
    • Additional Information
      • Causes
      • Asbestos and Its Dangers
      • Facts
      • Support
      • Financial Compensation
      • FREE Mesothelioma Packet
  • Treatment
    • Treatment Options
      • Surgery
      • Chemotherapy
      • Radiation Therapy
      • Multimodal Therapy
      • Medications
      • Palliative Treatment
    • Find Top Doctors
      • Doctors
      • Treatment Centers
      • Treatment & Doctors Near You
      • New Treatments
      • Care Providers
      • Clinical Trials
      • Costs
  • Asbestos Trusts
  • Compensation
  • Veteran Assistance
    • Mesothelioma and Veterans
      • VA Claims for Mesothelioma
      • Vietnam Veterans
    • Military Branches and Asbestos
      • Navy Veterans
      • Navy Ships
      • Marine Corps Veterans
      • Army Veterans
      • Air Force Veterans
      • U.S. Coast Guard
  • Surviving Mesothelioma
  • About Us / Contact

Asbestos Hidden in Talc Leads to $22 Million Jury Award for Mesothelioma Victim’s Family

Published on January 10, 2018

When 72-year-old Richard Booker died of malignant mesothelioma, his family was not certain as to where he had been exposed to asbestos, the carcinogenic material that has been established as the sole cause of the disease.

Although Booker worked for decades mixing paints, the companies that made the materials reportedly indicated that their products did not contain asbestos.

Careful investigations, however, led to the discovery that both Vanderbilt Minerals and Imerys Talc America purposely misled consumers about the presence of the toxin in their products.

A California jury has responded by awarding Mr. Booker’s family a total of $22 million for their negligence and liability in his wrongful death.

The jury handed down its verdict in the mesothelioma lawsuit following six weeks of testimony. Much of what they heard led them to believe that both companies had acted with “malice, oppression and fraud.”

Booker’s family was provided $17.5 million in compensatory damages to address their economic and emotional losses, as well as an additional $4.6 million specifically assessed as punitive damages against Imerys.

Vanderbilt escaped a jury assessment of punitive damages by settling with the Booker family before the next phase of the case could proceed. The two companies were each seen as to blame, with 60% of liability assessed to Vanderbilt and 40% to Imerys.

According to evidence submitted during the trial, tissue samples from Mr. Booker’s lungs contained the same ingredients as the asbestos-containing talc that the two companies manufactured.

The jury was told that the companies had gone beyond failing to disclose the presence of asbestos, and that they had specifically offered assurances that it was not there. Imerys documents showed that they had reblended their talc to reduce the possibility that asbestos would be detected.

Companies worked hard to continue using asbestos despite knowing that it was causing malignant mesothelioma and other fatal diseases. While they are being required to provide financial compensation for their wrongdoing, the families of those affected are paying the ultimate price.

Contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net at 1-800-692-8608. We can provide you with invaluable information and resources.

FREE Mesothelioma Packet

Written by Terri Oppenheimer

Terri Heimann 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
  • Malignant Mesothelioma
    • Treatment
    • Asbestos Trusts
  • Compensation
    • Veteran Assistance
    • Surviving Mesothelioma
  • FREE Mesothelioma Packet
    • Mesothelioma News
    • About Us / Contact
  • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Editorial Guidelines and Standards
This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
The information provided by Mesothelioma.net is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

Mesothelioma.net

5430 LBJ Freeway Suite 1200
Dallas, Texas 75240

Serving mesothelioma victims nationwide

1-800-692-8608

  • facebook
  • twitter
© 2022 Mesothelioma.net