Jury Awards $5.5 Million in Asbestos Exposure Suit

By Brian Cole

Published on November 07, 2006

John Hoogerwerf began working as an installer of insulation on pipes and boilers in power plants and industrial buildings in 1966, as a senior in high school. It was on the job, he said, that he was exposed to asbestos, a substance known to cause lung cancer. Hoogerwerf died of lung cancer in July of 2002, a little more than a year after being diagnosed with the disease.

The suit accused numerous companies of taking part in a conspiracy to hide the effects their asbestos-contaminated products had on workers. However, the $5.5 million verdictwas solely against Honeywell International Inc.

In court documents, attorneys for Honeywell denied there was a conspiracy. They also denied asbestos caused Hoogerwerf’s death. According to a statement from Honeywell, the company may appeal the verdict.

Vickie Hoogerwerf is the special administrator of her husband’s estate. She obtained the service of attorney Andrew Kelly, who said the verdict covers significant damages that occurred as a result of a conspiracy on behalf of a number of companies to sell asbestos-contaminated products while concealing their dangers.

The jury trial lasted three weeks.

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