Dean Omar Branham Shirley Mesothelioma Case Makes Top 100 Verdicts
18 July 2024 - 7:36PM
Business Wire
Firm’s $107 million asbestos verdict recognized
by VerdictSearch
Plaintiff firm Dean Omar Branham Shirley, LLP, earned a spot on
VerdictSearch’s Top 100 Verdicts for 2023 for Hernandezcueva v.
American Standard Inc., a case against Union Carbide Corp. that
resulted in a $107 million verdict for the asbestos-related death
of a father of four.
“Of course, it’s wonderful to have this verdict listed. What is
more exciting to our firm is the fact that we were able to obtain
it for a family that has suffered so much,” said managing partner
Trey Branham. “That is why we do this work.”
Jurors in the case, which concluded last summer in Los Angeles
County, Calif., agreed unanimously that Union Carbide acted with
malice in causing Joel Hernandezcueva, 45, to develop the cancer
that took his life. The jury also found Elementis Chemicals and
E.F. Brady Co. Inc. negligent.
Mr. Hernandezcueva worked as a janitor at the Park Place complex
in Irvine, where wall compound with Union Carbide’s asbestos was
part of the construction. Mesothelioma, a terminal cancer, is only
caused by asbestos exposure.
The DOBS trial team, which included attorneys Benjamin Adams,
Rachel A. Gross and Jonathan A. George, showed that Union Carbide’s
internal documents proved that the company knew its product could
lead to mesothelioma.
“For decades, the company calculated the costs for settling
future cancer claims and determined that its poison’s profit was
worth the future lawsuits,” said Mr. Adams. “They knew thousands
would die.”
The case was filed in 2011 and first tried in 2013. Two prior
rulings favored the defendants, but in each case, attorneys for Mr.
Hernandezcueva were successful in having appellate courts overturn
them.
VerdictSearch ranks top 100 verdicts by gross award calculated
by the jury. The Hernandezcueva case was included in the list for
products liability. To view the full list, click here.
The case is Joel Hernandezcueva, et al., vs. American Standard
Inc., et al., case No. BC475956, in the Superior Court of
California, County of Los Angeles, Civil Division.
Dean Omar Branham Shirley, LLP, is a nationally recognized trial
firm that handles cases across the country for individuals who have
suffered catastrophic injuries or have died as a result of
irresponsible conduct of others. For more information, please visit
http://www.dobslegal.com.
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BeLynn Hollers Belynn@androvett.com 800-559-4534