Union Carbide Calidria Product Unsafe, W.Va. Jury Finds

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Union Carbide has been found responsible for exposing thousands of workers to its Calidria asbestos product in a closely-watched West Virginia case that once involved nearly 200 defendants. Adkins v. Dow Chemical Corp., No. n/a W.Va. Cir. Ct., Kanawha Cty.

The Kanawha County Circuit Court jury on Oct. 24 determined that the chrysotile product was unsafe, but, according to published reports, rejected plaintiffs' allegations that the company, which is now owned by Dow Chemical Co., conspired to mislead workers about the product's dangers.

Because the case was being tried in phases, Union Carbide now faces the prospect …