Texas Asbestos Injury Lawsuit Results in $3M Award

A Texas man and his wife have been awarded $3 million in an asbestos injury lawsuit filed against Union Carbide and other defendants over the development of mesothelioma cancer. 

Oscar and Dora Torres sued Union Carbide Corporation, Garlock Sealing Technologies and Brown & Root over injuries caused by exposure to asbestos fibers while Oscar worked at the Union Carbide plant in Brownsville, Texas in the late 1970s.

Oscar Torres alleged that he developed mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of cancer that is found in the lining of the chest and lung, as a result of inhaling asbestos fibers.

The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure, and it is often not diagnosed for 20 to 40 years after exposure. As a result of the long latency period, the cancer is very advanced when it is diagnosed and life expectancy with the disease is limited.

Torres worked for Brown & Root at the Union Carbide plant, and the lawsuit alleged that Garlock parts he came in contact with used asbestos. The lawsuit alleged that workers were not properly protected against asbestos exposure and claimed that they were not warned of the potentially lethal consequences.

On March 6, a 107th District Court jury awarded the couple $1 million for past damages and $2 million for future damages. The jury apportioned 45% of the liability to Union Carbide, 45% to Garlock Sealing Technologies and 10% to Brown & Root.

Asbestos litigation is the longest running mass tort in U.S. history, with the first asbestos exposure lawsuit filed in 1929. Over 600,000 people have filed lawsuits against 6,000 defendants after being diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis or other asbestos-related diseases.