Workplace Hazards Verdicts and Settlements

Workplace Hazards Verdicts & Settlements Verdict & Settlement Description Disposition $8,000,000 Case Name $4,553,270 $2,500,000 $1,500,000 $1,000,000 $425,000 $53,500 Defense Shelby v. SeaRiver Maritime Inc. Seaman claimed exposure to ship's airborne San Francisco Co., Calif., Super. hydrocarbons caused kidney cancer. Defense contended Ct., No. CGC-06-449350 exposure rarely exceeded acceptable levels. (5/15/08) Estate of Collins v. Ketchikan Painter killed when primer's vapors ignited. Estate Drywall Services Inc. claimed site's electric should have been shut off, while King Co., Wash., Super. Ct., No. defense argued painter was impaired by marijuana use. 05-2-18766-2 (2/15/08) Martinez v. Sand Spring Metal Worker suffered third-degree burns when pants caught Processing Corp. fire. He claimed site didn't have firefighting equipment, Cook Co., Ill., Cir. Ct., No. 04-Lbut defense argued worker hadn't taken precautions. 4666 (2/28/08) Worker sustained spinal injuries in jackhammer Barnett v. Port Authority of New accident during bridge repair. He claimed jackhammer York and New Jersey was too powerful, but defense argued that he selected New York Co., N.Y., Sup. Ct., No. the tool. 101001/02 (1/23/08) Worker riding on forklift's fender was fatally tossed Coronado v. PJ Trailers when forklift flipped. Defense contended incident was Lamar Co., Texas, Dist. Ct., No. product of horseplay and outside scope of employment. 75206 (3/30/08) Worker's hand torn, fingers broken by conveyor in Jones v. Kossuth Fabricators Inc. pierogi plant. She alleged OSHA violations. Machine's Montgomery Co., Pa., Ct. C. P., maker contended woman wasn't properly trained. No. 04-28476 (3/18/08) Vanlerberghe v. General Casualty Construction-site surveyor slipped in mud, fell into Company of Wisconsin open shaft and fractured ankle. He claimed shaft wasn't Waukesha Co., Wis., Cir. Ct., No. guarded, but defense argued he simply wasn't cautious. 06-CV-001806 (7/20/07) Warehouse employee sustained two herniations when Lucas v. Sears Roebuck & Co. struck by refrigerator that fell off of hand truck. Burlington Co., N.J., Super. Ct., Defense prevailed on workers' compensation defense. No. 000364-06 (2/8/08) Woman's mesothelioma blamed on asbestos fibers her Glass v. John Crane Inc. husband carried home from factory job. Defense Madison Co., Ill., Cir. Ct., No. 06 claimed secondary asbestos exposure wasn't a known L 178 (12/14/07) hazard then. Surreira v. Roclan Service & Ship's captain tripped on roll of insulation left by Supply Inc. sandblasting contractor, claimed he injured back and S.D., Texas, No. 3:06-CV-767 leg. Defense prevailed on indemnity clause. (8/29/07) Defense Defense