SAN FRANCISCO, CA – August 27, 2021: Today a San Francisco jury delivered a defense verdict for Edlin Gallagher Huie + Blum’s client, a seller of electrical products. The plaintiff was a 77-year-old HVAC technician diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma. EGHB Partners Jeremy D. Huie and John E. Rosenthal teamed with the client’s National Trial Counsel to try this preference case over three weeks before Hon. Mary Wiss. Rosenthal conducted direct and cross examination of a plaintiff and several expert witnesses. Huie oversaw the trial team, handled oral argument on California legal issues, and conducted direct and cross examination of some key expert witnesses.
The plaintiff alleged that he was exposed to asbestos when handling electrical products on residential and commercial properties during his career as an HVAC technician. Plaintiffs pursued design defect, failure to warn, and loss of consortium claims. Plaintiffs’ counsel asked for over $18 million in compensatory damages, as well as a finding of malice to support punitive damages. The jury found in favor of EGHB’s client.
“Achieving a defense verdict in a living mesothelioma case is one of the toughest challenges a trial lawyer can face,” said Managing Partner Noel Edlin. “I could not be more proud of my partners Jeremy Huie and John Rosenthal for achieving this outstanding result.”
The outcome in this trial clearly demonstrates the skill with which EGHB attorneys try and win asbestos cases. In addition to obtaining defense verdicts, EGHB attorneys have a strong track record of achieving favorable outcomes for clients by winning motions for summary judgment and obtaining greatly reduced settlements.