WILMINGTON, Del., March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- The Dallas law firm of Baron & Budd, P.C., is announcing a unanimous $2 million jury verdict against General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. on behalf of a former Pawtuckett, R.I., resident who contracted a deadly cancer as a result of his workplace exposure to asbestos.
Rick Nemeroff of Dallas' Nemeroff Law Firm and Baron & Budd attorney Scott R. Frieling represented retired mechanic Roland Leo Grenier, Sr., in the trial heard in New Castle County Superior Court.
"Mr. Grenier had no idea that the products he used while providing for his wife and children would later threaten his life," says Mr. Nemeroff. "It's gratifying to see that the jury agreed that these companies should be held responsible for the pain and suffering caused by their products."
Members of the jury heard how Mr. Grenier was exposed to asbestos for nearly 35 years while working as an auto mechanic and laborer in the Pawtuckett area. During the course of his work, Mr. Grenier used several products manufactured by General Motors and Ford that contained asbestos, including vehicle brake and clutch mechanisms.
In 2005, Mr. Greiner was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an incurable cancer of the lungs caused by asbestos exposure. Testimony in the case showed that officials from General Motors and Ford knew about the dangers of asbestos exposure, but did nothing to protect Mr. Greiner.
The effects of asbestos exposure, including the onset of diseases like mesothelioma, can take years or decades to surface. More than 25 years passed before Mr. Grenier began showing symptoms of the deadly disease.
The jury of four men and eight women returned the verdict today at approximately 5:15 p.m. E.S.T. in Judge Mary Johnston's courtroom in Wilmington. The three-week trial concluded after 10 hours of jury deliberations conducted over two days.
In the $2 million compensatory damages verdict, members of the jury assessed 70 percent liability against General Motors; 16 percent against Ford; and 2 percent against seven other defendant companies.
For more information on the verdict, please contact Bruce Vincent at 214.559-4630 or 214.728.6747.
