Jury Awards $322 Million in Asbestosis Case Involving Drilling Mud Additives

RALEIGH, Miss. -- A Mississippi jury has awarded $322 million to a plaintiff who claimed he developed asbestosis as a result of working with drilling mud additives, sources told HarrisMartin Publishing. Brown v. Phillips 66, et al., No. n/a (Miss. Cir. Ct., Smith Cty.).

The verdict was reached by a Mississippi Circuit Court for Smith County jury yesterday afternoon, sources said. Jurors allocated 50 percent liability each to the two remaining defendants, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company and Union Carbide Corp.

Judge Eddie Bowen presided over the trial that began with just over one week of jury selection, followed by two-and-a-half …