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A grieving woman was awarded $12.25 million following the death of her sister to mesothelioma. The rare cancer is caused by exposure to asbestos.
The verdict puts blame on Vanderbilt Mining LLC for operating a mine that contained asbestos. The victim, Anna B., resided near the mine all of her adult life.
Following Anna’s death, her sister Linda Weaver filed a wrongful death mesothelioma lawsuit against Vanderbilt Mining on behalf of her sister. The jury ruled in her favor, awarding $4.5 million for Anna’s pain and suffering and another $7.75 million in punitive damages to punish Vanderbilt Mining.
More Details of the Lawsuit
Anna died of mesothelioma on January 3, 2023. Her sister took control of the legal rights regarding her death and filed an asbestos exposure lawsuit in the New York State Supreme Court in Lawrence County.
During testimony, a six-person jury heard how Vanderbilt Mining operated the talc mine in Balmat from the 1970s-2008. Talc is a natural mineral found in the same areas as asbestos, and talc mines often have asbestos as well.
Mining activities can spread asbestos into the air, putting workers and residents at risk of breathing in or swallowing the toxins. Wind, rain, and other environmental factors can spread particles through nearby neighborhoods.
Asbestos floats in the air and settles on the ground, waiting to be kicked up by passing vehicles or weather elements. This is called environmental asbestos exposure.
Anna was disabled for most of her adult life and lived near the mine. Testimony revealed that she was exposed to an extreme amount of asbestos – more than 50 times the average threshold known to cause mesothelioma. Doctors also found talc particles in her lung tissue, which confirmed that her breathing air was contaminated.
Filing Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits
People who are living with asbestos exposure diseases can seek compensation. Mesothelioma is one of the most notorious asbestos diseases, but exposure can also cause ovarian cancer and lung cancer.
When someone dies of mesothelioma or another asbestos disease, their surviving family members can begin or continue the lawsuit against the companies responsible for the exposure. In this case, Anna’s sister filed the lawsuit. Most states have rules on which family members can file wrongful death lawsuits for a deceased victim.
Mesothelioma Guide can help surviving family members learn their legal options following a mesothelioma death. Contact our patient advocate Carl Jewett at cjewett@mesotheiomaguide.com. One email can begin the process of getting the justice you and your family deserve.
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