Jury Awards $5 Million, Assesses 10 Percent Liability to American Optical

ELLISVILLE, Miss. -- A Mississippi jury has awarded $5 million to a silica plaintiff, assessing 10 percent liability to American Optical, sources have confirmed to HarrisMartin. McGilberry v. Pangborn Corp., No. 2007-16-CV5 (Miss. Cir. Ct., Jones Cty., Dist. 1.).

The Mississippi First Judicial Circuit Court for Jones County jury reached the verdict on Friday, Aug. 6, sources said. Judge Billy Joe Landrum presided over the one-week trial, which ended after approximately four hours of jury deliberations.

The underlying claims were brought by John McGilberry, who claimed that his work as a jackhammer demolishing concrete exposed him to respirable silica. McGilberry …