Opinion ID: 1667285
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Plaintiffs:

Text: ¶ 4. James Curry, 65 at the time of trial, had worked for various railroad companies for approximately 31 years, beginning in 1957 and ending in 1989. Curry testified that he worked as a laborer, a car helper and a car man, all without wearing a mask or a respirator. For five years, Curry did drywall repair also without respiratory protection. In the late 1960s, Curry began working as a welder. While welding, he wore a mask to protect against welding fumes. Curry testified that he was instructed to wear a mask by his foreman. He also testified that he did not wear any type of mask between the years of 1982 until 1989. ¶ 5. Curry was examined, at the request of his attorney, by Dr. Obie McNair, a board certified pulmonologist. Dr. McNair diagnosed Curry with pleural thickening [4] and asbestosis caused by exposure to asbestos. However, Dr. McNair placed no restrictions on Curry's activities. Dr. McNair noted in his records that Curry informed him that he did not wear a respirator while working. Curry now performs grounds and building maintenance work. Curry is also able to walk three to four miles per day. Based on the evidence presented at trial, the jury allocated twenty percent of Curry's damage award, or $5 million, to 3M. ¶ 6. Simeon Johnson, 53 at the time of trial, testified that he worked for twenty-four years before he became disabled from a knee injury. For fifteen of those years, Johnson worked in environments where he claimed he was exposed to asbestos without respiratory protection. Johnson testified that he only wore a 3M mask during the one year that he worked at Superior Coach. Although Johnson did not work with asbestos products at Superior Coach, he testified that during approximately ten 30-minute periods, he was in the same large building as other workers who used pipe covering and insulating cement. ¶ 7. Johnson was also examined by Dr. McNair, who testified that Johnson told him during their visit that he did not use respiratory protection while he worked. Dr. McNair diagnosed Johnson with mild asbestosis and placed no restrictions on his activities. The jury allocated 25 percent of Johnson's damages to 3M  an award of more than $6 million. ¶ 8. Bobby Joe Lawrence, 56 at the time of trial, testified that he only wore a mask or respirator while he was working at Ingalls Shipbuilding and Halter Marine. However, Lawrence also worked on automobile brakes for approximately 28 years, but he never wore any respiratory protection. Lawrence's primary job at Halter Marine and Ingalls was sandblasting, for which he wore a full suit and airfed hood. ¶ 9. Lawrence was examined by Dr. McNair and was diagnosed with mild pleural thickening. Dr. McNair placed no restrictions on Lawrence's activities. The jury found 3M twenty percent liable for Lawrence's claimed injuries and awarded him $5 million. ¶ 10. Phillip Pate, 49 at the time of trial, worked for 23 years until he became disabled by Guillain-Barre syndrome, [5] a neurological condition unrelated to asbestos exposure. Pate testified that during the three years he worked at Medart Lockers he wore a mask or respirator three or four times a year while replacing insulation bricks, and three or four times a month while replacing pipe insulation. Pate also testified that he wore protective masks and respirators while he was employed at Colonial Homes. ¶ 11. Pate was examined by Dr. McNair, who diagnosed Pate with asbestosis. Dr. McNair placed no restrictions on Pate's activities based on this diagnosis. The jury allocated 25 percent of Pate's damage award, or more than $6 million, to 3M.