Drywaller Awarded $26.6M Asbestos Mesothelioma Settlement

Michael Sutherland and his wife, Suszi Sutherland, filed an asbestos-related lawsuit on June 20, 2012 against over 30 manufacturers that made products containing asbestos such as stucco, drywall, and roofing materials. Many of the companies settled out of court, except two defendants — Lime Products and Highland Stucco — that claimed they were not responsible for Sutherland’s asbestos exposure.

Sutherland worked as a drywaller in San Diego County, California, for 25 years beginning in 1967 and worked through the California housing boom in the 1970s where he worked with or alongside building materials such as drywall, joint compound, caulk, roofing mastic, stucco, cement, and pipes. During this time he was unknowingly breathing in asbestos fibers from the dust these products were giving off.

“With all the trades working on top of each other trying to finish one job and move on to the next, it was always dusty,” Sutherland said.

Sutherland says he wasn’t aware of the asbestos he was exposed to or the risks related to asbestos in many of the products he used in his job until he became employed at the University of California, San Diego as a maintenance mechanic in 2003 where he was required to attend a workplace safety training class.

Sutherland was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in May 2012, which he claims is a result of being exposed to asbestos fibers in his work.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that forms in the thin tissue layer that surrounds the majority of internal organs called the mesothelium. In most mesothelioma patients, it infects the tissue that covers the lungs, called the pleura. It can also infect the tissue in the abdominal region, the heart, and the testicles. Mesothelioma is considered incurable even though there are treatments available for it. Most patients die within 12 months of diagnosis. One of the problems with mesothelioma is that it can take decades for symptoms to appear.

Sutherland’s mesothelioma is in the tissue surrounding his lungs. He began treatment in July 2012 at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he began six weeks of radiation therapy under Dr. Robert Cameron, the Director of the Comprehensive Mesothelioma Program there.

“I was one of the first patients to get radiation with UCLA’s new Tomo-Therapy equipment. Dr. Cameron and his team are on the cutting edge when it comes to treating meso. There are world-renown medical centers in San Diego, but for mesothelioma, the experts are at UCLA,” Sutherland said.

Sutherland said he plans to use the money he was awarded in his asbestos lawsuit settlement toward restoring his health, and is dedicated to supporting mesothelioma research, particularly the work that is being done by Dr. Robert Cameron at the Pacific Meso Center.

“I’ve personally benefitted from Dr. Cameron’s research supported by patients before me affected by the disease. Now it’s my turn. With a little luck, I’ll be around long enough to benefit from the research they do with my support,” Sutherland said.

If you or someone you know has had similar side effects or symptoms caused by asbestos exposure, legal options are available to you. Learn more and get a free consultation regarding a claim’s eligibility at the Mesothelioma Asbestos Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation. Experienced legal professionals have access to medical experts to assess whether or not your mesothelioma is the result of asbestos exposure, so act now.