Joseph Garza, a former Navy worker suffering from asbestosis was awarded $ 1.1 million in a suit against Asbestos Corporation Limited. Garza was a fireman and boilerman on ships during his career in the Navy from 1948 through 1957. He worked in conditions in which he was exposed to asbestos-containing cements, insulation, gaskets and packing.
In early 2004, Mr. Garza was diagnosed with asbestosis, a progressive and debilitating scarring of the lung tissue that is caused by exposure to asbestos. This left him dependant on supplemental oxygen and medications. Mrs. Garza is disabled and had relied on her husband to perform household services, such as cooking, cleaning, gardening and maintenance.
A jury awarded over $1.1 million to Joseph Garza and $400,000 to his wife for the loss of his companionship. The defendant, Asbestos Corporation Limited, acted with malice or oppression, according to the jury, which added another $10 million in punitive damages against the company.
Asbestos Corporation Limited is the owner and former operator of asbestos mines in the Thetford Mines region of Quebec, Canada.
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