Claris Law Legal Blogging Community

Editor: Brandon West
Profession: Brayton Purcell LLP

Category: Asbestos News

A San Francisco Superior Court jury recently returned an asbestos related verdict of $868,000 for the family of a drywall taper that died as a result of his prolonged exposure to asbestos containing products and mixes. Douglas Ivance spent his entire adult life as a dry wall taper where he used asbestos containing products, including joint compounds and sprays manufactured by Rich-Tex, Inc. a Richmond, California based supplier. The compounds and sprays utilized asbestos in their manufacture and when mixed and applied as directed, asbestos fibers and dust particles were released into the air which Ivance breathed. In April of 2003 Ivance, died on Easter Sunday from complications of severe asbestos-related pleural disease and asbestoses. The jury awarded $368,787.64 in economic damages and $500,000 in non-economic damages after determing Rich-Tex could have took precautions to prevent this unfortunate result.

The case was Aline Ivance, Vicky Woolley, and Lindy Schluter v. Rich-Tex, Inc (San Francisco Superior Court, Case No. 419435). Judge Julie Tang of Department 303 of the San Francisco Superior Court

presided.