California Jury Finds for Friction Defendants in Mesothelioma Case

SAN FRANCISCO - A California jury has found for the defense in a case where the plaintiff claimed he developed mesothelioma after alleged exposure to asbestos-laden brakes. Reyes v. Raybestos-Manhattan, et al., No. 313506 (Calif. Super. Ct., San Francisco Cty.).

The San Francisco County Superior Court jury took five hours to determine that Mario and Olivia Reyes' claims against four friction defendants did not warrant the $3.5 million they sought for compensation of Mario Reyes' illness.

Reyes, 60, spent more than 40 years in the automotive business and developed mesothelioma in January 2000, allegedly as a result of exposure to …