Illinois Widow Gets $850,000 in Asbestos Case

November 29, 2006 - In the third McLean County (IL) asbestos suit against Honeywell International in the last 14 months, the widow of a former builder and inspector, who died of mesothelioma last year, was awarded $850,000.

According to a local newspaper account published on Pantagraph.com, the jury found in favor of Judith Blessing and accused Honeywell International of conspiring to hide asbestos dangers.  The 3 recent cases against the company have resulted in awards that total more than $11 million.

Robert Blessing worked as a builder and inspector for pipe covering at Union Asbestos and Rubber Co., also known as Unarco, from 1953 to 1960 at its Bloomington plant, said his lawyer, Lisa Corwin.  He became sickened with mesothelioma, an asbestos-caused cancer, in June 2005 and was dead six months later.  When he realized the extent of his disease, he began the litigation, which Mrs. Blessing carried on after his death.

“They (Honeywell) told the jury that they didn’t know about the harmful effects of exposure to asbestos until 1972, and that they told workers after that,” Corwin said. “And of course we said they knew before ’72. The only reason they told people after ’72 was because OSHA (the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration) came out and they had to tell people.”

Corwin says the Blessing family is very happy the jury validated their claim.  Honeywell, nonetheless, maintains their innocence.

“We will continue to vigorously defend our position, through appeal if necessary,” said a statement issued by Honeywell. “We are confident that we will ultimately prevail, as have other defendants in similar cases.