Jury Awards Carpenter $1.2 Million for Chrysotile-Related Mesothelioma

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - A Florida jury has awarded $1.2 million to a former carpenter who developed mesothelioma after he was exposed to a drywall joint compound that contained Union Carbide Corp.'s Calidria chrysotile asbestos product. Kavanaugh v. Dow Chemical Corp., et al., No. 03-1065AD (Fla. Cir. Ct., Palm Beach Cty.).

The West Palm Beach Circuit Court jury awarded the verdict May 8 after deliberating for three days. The same case had resulted in a mistrial earlier this year after jurors were unable to reach a verdict, sources said.

The plaintiff, Dennis Kavanaugh, claimed he was exposed to dust …