Jim Scadden, a partner in Gordon & Rees’ Environmental Toxic Tort Practice Group, with assistance from Jeff Coons recently won a trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court for client Foster Wheeler.

The civil lawsuit was filed by a 59-year old plaintiff against Foster Wheeler, a company that provided boilers to the U.S. Navy for use on board ships. Plaintiff, who is married and has two young daughters, has mesothelioma, a fatal cancer of the lining of the lungs for which the only known cause is exposure to asbestos. Plaintiff was a serviceman on board a U.S. Navy ship and alleged that Foster Wheeler was liable for exposures to asbestos used as insulation on the Foster Wheeler boilers.

Plaintiff’s counsel asked the jury for $20 million to be awarded to Plaintiff and an additional $10 million to Plaintiff’s wife for the loss of consortium. The jury deliberated for 45 minutes before returning a favorable verdict for Foster Wheeler finding no defect in the product and no negligence.