Couple Wins $10.2 M in Asbestos Case

Seattle, WA – A retired Crown Zellerbach Paper Mill worker suffering from mesothelioma and his wife were awarded $10.2 by a federal jury in Seattle, Washington. The verdict in favor of Henry Barabin and his wife Geraldine came on Wednesday, November 19, 2009, after three days of deliberations.

The couple had filed a lawsuit against Scapa Dryer Fabrics, Inc. and AstenJohnson Inc., two former manufacturers of asbestos–containing dryer fabrics used on paper machines.

Barabin worked as a laborer at the Texaco Refinery in Port Arthur Texas from 1964-1968. Then he worked as a pulp tester, paper tester, spare hand, fifth hand, fourth hand, third hand, winderman, and filterman at the Crown Zellerbach paper mill in Camas, Washington from 1968 to 2001. After his retirement in 2001, he shifted to Sun City, FL.

Throughout his career, Barabin was exposed to dust released from the asbestos-containing dryer fabrics during normal operation, handling, replacement, disposal, and clean up.

Barabin was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2006. To fight the disease, he had to undergo surgery, fluid drainage and three rounds of chemotherapy, in addition to many imaging tests, according to the complaint.

Until 1980, Scapa Dryer Fabrics, Inc. and AstenJohnson Inc. supplied asbestos-containing dryer fabrics without warning of any danger.

The jury decided that the asbestos-containing dryer made by the defendants were defectively designed. The jury also found the defendants were negligent as they failed to include any warning of hazards on their products.

The plaintiffs were assessed $700,000.00 in monetary damages for medical costs, loss of household services and loss of future income, and $8,000,000.00 in non-economic damages. The jury also assessed $1,500,000.00 for Mrs. Barabin’s loss of consortium. The defendants are collectively responsible for $10,200,000, the total amount.

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