Former Boilermaker Seeking $27 Million in Compensation for Mesothelioma

A Seattle jury heard closing arguments this week in a mesothelioma lawsuit that pitted a former boilermaker against Pryor Giggey, Co. The victim’s attorney built a case showing that the company had manufactured asbestos-contaminated boiler refractory insulation to which Cliff Little had been exposed while working at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Asbestos Company Denies Responsibility for Victim’s Mesothelioma

The mesothelioma victim provided a significant amount of evidence in the case, including sales receipts from 1972 showing that Pryor-Giggey had purchased 1,000 pounds of asbestos from Johns Manville and testimony from three of the company’s employees who had testified about mixing the carcinogenic mineral into Lite-Wate 50, the company’s boiler insulation that was used in Mr. Little’s workplace. 

Despite this, the company argued against its liability in his mesothelioma, arguing that another witness, a steelworker who had testified that he had seen bags of Pryor Giggey’s insulation at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, wasn’t credible. In response Mr. Little’s attorney pointed to a variety of contradictory and evasive statements that the company had made during its defense, including refusing to provide documents of sales to another facility in Washington state.

Mesothelioma Victim Seeks Compensation for Extensive Treatment, Pain and Suffering

According to the mesothelioma victim, Pryor Giggey’s negligence in having exposed him to asbestos has robbed him of an expected 15 more years of his life and forced him into expensive cancer treatments that are costing as much as $105,000 per dose.  The compensation that he is requesting from the jury represents reimbursement for the cost of treatments that he would need in order to reach his original life expectancy, though it is anticipated that his sarcomatoid mesothelioma will result in his death far earlier than that.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, there are many resources available to help you deal with the disease’s challenges. For help, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net 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