Court Affirms $1.25 Million Verdict for Calif. Pipe Fitter

SAN FRANCISCO - A California appellate court has affirmed a plaintiff verdict for a former pipe fitter suffering from asbestosis, denying a mining defendant's contention that the judgment lacked substantial supporting evidence. Quarles v. Advocate Mines Limited, No. A110073 (Calif. Ct. App., 1st Dist., Div. 2).

The First Appellate District of the California Court of Appeal issued the decision Dec. 14, affirming a jury's finding that Advocate Mines Limited was liable on theories of defective design, failure to warn and negligence, and that AML acted with malice or oppression in exposing Geronia Quarles to asbestos.

In his lawsuit against AML, …