The Estate of Nicholas Barone trial in Bridgeport Superior Court in Connecticut before Judge William Clark concluded with a $15 million plaintiff’s verdict on 5/16/2024. The jury also awarded punitive damages, the exact amount to be determined by the trial judge at a later date. Upon oral argument and review of the parties’ briefs Judge Clark awarded plaintiffs $7,500,000 in punitive damages noting that Vanderbilt Minerals was a sophisticated defendant in position to know of the dangers associated with the mining operation and would not be financially ruined by such an award.
At trial, Plaintiffs alleged that decedent Nicholas Barone was exposed to asbestos and asbestos-contaminated talc while working as an engineer from 1965 to 1967. Mr. Barone worked in a location where phenolic plastics compounds that incorporated both raw asbestos and talc were manufactured, and he recalled employees at the facility having “snowball fights” with raw asbestos. Mr. Barone was diagnosed with mesothelioma and died at age 81.
Plaintiff argued for $30 million in punitive damages, the maximum amount permissible by Gen. Stat
§ 52-240b. Plaintiff asserted that such an award was necessary to hold Vanderbilt accountable and to prevent other companies from engaging in similar deceptive practices. Plaintiffs stressed that the punitive damages would not financially ruin Vanderbilt but would send a strong message about the importance of corporate responsibility and consumer safety. Additionally, Plaintiff emphasized that Vanderbilt prioritized profit over safety...
