In May, n Oklahoma jury awarded a man $6 million in an asbestos mesothelioma verdict, finding at least two of a dozen companies to be responsible for the asbestos exposure that led to his current health condition.

51-year old plaintiff Michael G. filed the asbestos mesothelioma lung cancer lawsuit back in 2012, shortly after he was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. Michael claimed that over a dozen companies were responsible for negligently exposing him to asbestos at various workplaces over the course of several decades.

In regards to his asbestos mesothelioma claims against the Texas company Murco Wall Products and Missouri manufacturer Welco Manufacturing Co., the jury found in favor of Michael. Murco and Welco will jointly pay him $6 million in asbestos mesothelioma damages. The jury did not award punitive damages.

The jury found that Red Devil Inc., a third defendant in Michael’s asbestos exposure lawsuit, was not liable for Michael’s lung cancer condition. Additionally, U.S. District Judge Bryan C. Dixon dismissed defendant M-D Building Products Inc. (formerly Macklanburg-Duncan) from Michael’s asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit last year.

What is Asbestos Mesothelioma?

Asbestos mesothelioma is a rare, but deadly, form of lung cancer that develops from prolonged exposure to asbestos fibers over the course of decades. When a person inhales asbestos fibers, they become trapped in the lung lining, causing inflammation, scarring, and tumors that eventually lead to the development of asbestos mesothelioma. According to recent medical reports, asbestos mesothelioma lung cancer kills about 4,800 people every year within the United States. Many of the deaths occur among manual or semi-skilled workers.

Many workers like Michael have been exposed to asbestos materials on the job. Because asbestos mesothelioma has a long latency period, most mesothelioma victims will not show asbestos mesothelioma lung cancer symptoms until 15-35 years after the first asbestos exposure.

Occupations with a high risk of asbestos exposure include:

• Auto mechanics
• Shipyards workers
• Paper mill workers
• Construction workers
• Textile workers
• Insulation installers
• Sheet metal workers
• Roofers
• Toll collectors
• Tilers
• Linotype technicians
• Plumbers

Michael and numerous other workers are now pursuing asbestos lawsuits against the employers who failed to not only inform them of the risk of asbestos exposure, but also neglected to give them any form of protection from this dangerous carcinogen. Asbestos mesothelioma lawsuits and asbestos lung cancer lawsuits allow workers to receive compensation for medical expenses, loss of earnings, and other damages stemming from their asbestos exposure and subsequent health problems.