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

Minnesota Appeals Court Decides Against Honeywell in Mesothelioma Appeal

Published on June 06, 2018

When mesothelioma victim Ronald Conda filed a lawsuit against those he believed were responsible for his fatal illness, he included Honeywell International and others for exposure outside of his employment in addition to Northern States Power (NSP), his employer.

After his death, the jury returned with a verdict that attributed 10% of fault to Honeywell, 10% to co-defendant Foster Wheeler and 80% to NSP, and awarded his family almost $4 million in damages.

Honeywell appealed the judgment on several grounds, including the expert witness testimony in the case, the failure to name the U.S. Navy as a defendant, Mr. Conda’s counsel’s misconduct and a state rule regarding allocation of judgment.

Upon hearing Honeywell’s argument, the Court of Appeals of Minnesota denied Honeywell and ordered them to pay the judgment.

Every mesothelioma lawsuit has the potential for raising highly technical legal arguments, and Mr. Conda’s case was no exception.

The judges indicated that in this case, each of the arguments made by Honeywell were invalid. They ruled that the expert testimony that the jury heard was credible and sufficient; that there was insufficient evidence regarding the Navy for it to have been named as a defendant; that the district court had instructed the jury to disregard the improper remarks or arguments made by opposing counsel; and that the company’s interpretation of Minnesota state laws was incorrect, and therefore not appropriate.

One of the most interesting aspects of the court’s decision centered on the comments made by Mr. Conda’s attorney, who told the jury that Honeywell should be punished because mesothelioma “is a horrific way to die” and that Honeywell’s actions had represented “blatant, explicit, known, eyes wide open violation of the law.”

The attorney argued that the jury’s decision regarding liability should be “as calculated and deliberate as the decision of the company’s decision makers over decades.”

Though that type of language is prohibited by Minnesota law and can lead to a reversal if a jury awards excessive damages, the court pointed out that the jury’s verdict indicated that the attorney’s comments had not led to an inappropriate damage amount against Honeywell.

Mesothelioma victims deserve passionate assistance, and the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to provide it. To learn how we can be of help, contact us today at 1-800-692-8608.

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