$500,000 Awarded to Railroad Machinist with Asbestosis

AUSTIN, Texas - A jury has awarded $500,000 in compensatory damages to a retired railroad machinist who developed asbestosis after being exposed to asbestos as an employee of Norfolk Railway Co. Bailey v. Norfolk Railway Co., No. 94-03454-C (Texas Dist. Ct., Travis Cty.,126th Dist.).

The Oct. 10 award was assessed entirely against Bailey's employer.

Plaintiff James Allen Bailey claimed he was exposed to asbestos while repairing steam engines for Norfolk Southern from the mid-1940s through the mid-1950s. He stripped asbestos insulation off of boilers and pipes prior to repairs.

During that time, Bailey allegedly was not provided with any …