Baron & Budd, P.C. Wins Appeal of $20 Million California Asbestos Cancer Verdict

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Baron & Budd, P.C. announced an appellate victory relating to a $20 million dollar asbestos cancer verdict. The appeal upholds the jury’s verdict and court’s judgment in this asbestos cancer lawsuit brought on behalf of mesothelioma patient Joan Mahoney and husband Daniel Mahoney. Baron & Budd attorneys John Langdoc and Denyse Clancy, who represented the Mahoneys, proved that Mrs. Mahoney’s mesothelioma was linked to her exposure to an asbestos-containing joint compound manufactured by Georgia Pacific and that the company knew beforehand that asbestos exposure caused disease.

Mrs. Mahoney, a San Francisco native, spent much of her career in show business. Her singing career spanned 30 years and took her around the world seven times on United Service Organizations (USO) tours. But, it was Mrs. Mahoney’s work in the family home-remodeling business that exposed her to an asbestos-containing joint compound produced by Georgia Pacific. Together, Mrs. Mahoney and her husband built and remodeled numerous houses in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

In August 2006, Mrs. Mahoney was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer affecting the lining of the lung caused by asbestos exposure. Several months before, her husband suffered a severe stroke that left him paralyzed and unable to speak. Weakened by cancer and chemotherapy, Mrs. Mahoney was unable to take care of her husband, who required home nursing care.

The jury awarded Mrs. Mahoney and her husband $20,050,000 and apportioned 30% of the fault to Georgia Pacific, and the remaining liability to Bondex, Kaiser Gypsum and Durabond joint compound, and CertainTeed construction products. After reducing the award to reflect Georgia Pacific’s percentage of fault, settlements made by other defendants prior to trial, and a stipulated amount of medical damages, the court entered a judgment of $6,289,544. The appellate court upheld the full verdict, finding it was “amply supported” by the evidence at trial.

"Georgia Pacific did not protect Mrs. Mahoney or any others who used its joint compound, and I am pleased that the appellate court agreed with the judge and jury that Georgia Pacific must be held accountable," said Langdoc.

About Baron & Budd, P.C.

Dallas-based Baron & Budd, P.C., with offices in Baton Rouge, Austin and Beverly Hills, is a nationally recognized firm with more than three decades of experience representing people and communities harmed by corporate negligence. It has been recognized by the National Law Journal’s “Plaintiffs’ Hot List” in 2002-2006 and 2008 (Incisive Media). The firm resolved one of the first asbestos cases in the United States in the 1970s and continues to serve people diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer, as well as communities and consumers dealing with the costs of fraud and corporate misconduct.

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