Jury Awards $5 Million in Asbestos/Solvent Exposure Case

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- A Tennessee jury has awarded $5 million to a former electrician who claims his dual exposure to asbestos and cleaning solvents caused asbestosis and brain damage. Hensley v. CSX Transportation, No. 02 C 153 (Tenn. Cir. Ct., Hamilton Cty.).

The Hamilton County Circuit Court jury reached the verdict on Sept. 29 after three weeks of trial in the Federal Employer's Liability Act (FELA) case.

Thurston Hensley claimed his asbestosis and toxic encephalopathy were the result of 33 years of exposure to asbestos and the trichloethylene-containing cleaning solvent Dow Clean. As an electrician, Hensley said he was required …