Mesothelioma Compensation: $20 Million Settlement Awarded to Maryland Resident

A Baltimore city jury has recently awarded more than $20 million to a woman who contracted mesothelioma cancer after being exposed to asbestos during the late 1960s.

Jocelyn Farrar, a 57-year-old nursing professor at the University of Maryland, believes she developed malignant mesothelioma after experiencing secondary asbestos exposure from washing her grandfather’s work clothes as a teenager.

John Hentgen, Farrar’s grandfather, worked with asbestos-containing insulation on a regular basis and likely carried home asbestos on his clothes. While doing laundry, Farrar inhaled asbestos fibers which later became lodged in the lining of her lungs.

Exposure to asbestos, the primary cause of mesothelioma, can occur by either inhaling or ingesting microscopic asbestos fibers. If inhaled, the likely result is pleural mesothelioma. Ingested asbestos fibers are more likely to cause peritoneal mesothelioma, which occurs in the abdomen.

The severe latency period associated with mesothelioma symptoms is what makes this cancer so dangerous. In most cases, symptoms do not arise until the tumor has reached the advanced stages of development, resulting in a late diagnosis and a very poor prognosis for patients. Farrar was diagnosed about 40 years after her initial exposure to asbestos.

It has been determined that Farrar’s grandfather worked with asbestos-laden insulation made by Georgia-Pacific Corporation. Since her diagnosis, Farrar has undergone surgery that removed part of her lung.

The Baltimore City Circuit Court jury found Georgia-Pacific liable for Farrar’s cancer and awarded her $20,272,000. The decision included $18.5 million for non-economic damages, $1.6 million for lost wages and earning capacity, $97,000 for previous medical expenses, and $75,000 for any future medical costs.

The mineral asbestos was incorporated in a wide variety of manufacturing and construction products throughout the 20th century. Those who suspect they have been exposed to asbestos should receive regular checkups with a qualified physician for signs of an asbestos-related condition.

Additional information about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 10:26 am and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos Litigation, Maryland, Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.