California Jury Awards $18.5 Million in RG-144 Exposure Case

SAN FRANCISCO -- A California jury has awarded $18.5 million to a former plastics molder who claimed his exposure to Union Carbide's Calidria-containing product RG-144 caused his mesothelioma. Bakkie v. Asbestos Defendants, No. 445300 (Calif. Super. Ct., San Francisco Cty.).

The San Francisco Superior Court jury reached the verdict on Aug. 31 after just under two days of deliberations and seven weeks of trial.

The jury awarded $3,223,450 in economic damages -- $385,000 for past and future and $2,838,450 in non-medical economic costs -- and $15.3 million in non-economic damages -- $1.2 million for past non-economic damages and $14.1 million …