It’s been seven years since Donald “Greg” Lassiter was diagnosed with mesothelioma, and over that time, he has fought both a medical and legal battle. The latter has come to an end, as a DeKalb County, Georgia jury has ordered Honda and Yamaha to pay him $5 million in compensation for having exposed him to asbestos. The jury unanimously agreed with the victim that asbestos in the motorcycle brakes he repaired as a teenager caused his rare cancer, placing 100 percent of the fault on the two manufacturers.
Mesothelioma Victim Was Exposed as a Teenage Motocross Racer
Mr. Lassiter was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in August 2019, when he was 58 years old. This rare form of the deadly disease forms in the lining of the abdomen. Evidence presented to the jury showed that from approximately 1973 through 1984, he was an avid motocross racer who maintained and repaired his own motorcycles, regularly changing the brakes on bikes from several manufacturers, including Honda and Yamaha. Those brakes contained chrysotile asbestos.
Mesothelioma cases involving hobbyists like Mr. Lassiter are less common than those tied to industrial exposure, and his case was faced with unusual scientific and legal hurdles. To reconstruct his exposure, his legal team located and purchased the same model Yamaha motorcycle he had worked on as a teen. They also obtained genuine Honda and Yamaha brake components and tested them in studies that became key evidence during the trial. The litigation also included depositions from Yamaha representatives in Japan. The victim’s team ended up having to oppose nearly a dozen defense motions seeking to end the case or exclude expert testimony.
Mesothelioma Verdict Comes in a Challenging Jurisdiction
The multi-million-dollar verdict is especially notable because DeKalb County has a well-earned reputation for being a challenging environment for those seeking compensation for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. This case saw multiple judges overseeing it since it was first filed. Despite those difficulties, the jury sided with Mr. Lassiter.
Mesothelioma has not diminished Mr. Lassiter’s competitive spirit or the pride he took in his former hobby. While explaining how avid he had been as a teen, he brought a trophy he’d earned when he was 15, explaining that he’d been knocked off the track early in the race but battled back to finish eighth. He told the jury that the experience taught him to “always be tough,” a lesson he has carried into his fight against cancer.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
