Utah Court Affirms $5.2 Million Asbestos Verdict, Rejects Attempts to Apply Joint and Several Liability

SALT LAKE CITY –– A Utah appellate court has upheld a $5.2 million asbestos verdict, rejecting appeals by both the plaintiff and Union Carbide and Georgia-Pacific.

In the April 4 opinion the Utah Court of Appeals also declined to apply joint and several liability, ruling that the plaintiff’s cause of action did not accrue until an illness manifested, which occurred “long after” the Comparative Negligence Act was repealed. The appellate court also rejected post-trial motions made by the defendants.

Micah Riggs filed the claims on behalf of his mother-in-law, Vickie Warren. Warren developed malignant peritoneal mesothelioma as a result of …