Madison County, Ill. Jury Reaches Defense Verdict for Crane Co. in Asbestos Trial

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. –– An Illinois jury has reached a defense verdict for Crane Co., rejecting claims asserted on behalf of a Tennessee man who was allegedly exposed to asbestos-containing gaskets and packing found in the defendant’s valves.

After a nine-day trial and more than three hours of deliberations, the Illinois 3rd Judicial Circuit Court for Madison County jury unanimously found that Crane Co. was not negligent. Judge Stephen A. Stobbs, who took over the assignment of Madison County asbestos cases in Oct. 2013, presided over the trial, which ended in the verdict late on Feb. 28.

The plaintiffs asserted …