Joseph Sanders died of colon cancer in 2018 after having years of occupational exposure to asbestos and other toxins while working for CSX Transportation, Inc. An Illinois jury recently awarded his widow, Annette, $2.2 million in damages after agreeing that the company had been negligent in its failure to provide him with a safe workplace.
Asbestos Among Carcinogenic Toxins that Victim Was Exposed To
According to the asbestos claim Mrs. Sanders filed against CSX Transportation, Inc., her late husband had spent the years from 2002 to 2014 working as a plumber and sheet metal worker at the company’s Barr Yard in Riverdale, Illinois. She claimed that the company had failed to monitor and reduce levels of carcinogenic toxins including asbestos that had led to his cancer diagnosis.
Among the shortcomings the asbestos widow cited was the failure to provide protective equipment or warn of cancer risks, leading to the unsafe conditions that led to his death. The company countered by denying that it was negligent and instead pointed to Mr. Sanders’ longtime history of smoking cigarettes.
Expert Witness Testimony Proves Convincing in Asbestos Case
Though CSX offered evidence that it had pursued some safety measures, the asbestos widow offered contradictory information and included testimony from noted expert Dr. Erik Richard Swenson regarding the link between Mr. Sanders’ cancer and his workplace exposure to asbestos and other toxins.
After hearing all of the evidence, the Illinois jury agreed with the widow that CSX had been negligent and awarded her $2.2 million, though they agreed that Mr. Sanders also had some responsibility for his death as a result of his smoking. The damages award was lowered by 65 percent, leaving CSX owing the widow $770,000.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
