Date: 10-22-2009

Case Style: Merlon Dukes, Bob Blessing and John Watkins v. Honeywell International Inc.

Case Number:

Judge:

Court: Circuit Court, McLean County, Illinois

Plaintiff's Attorney: James Wylder and Lisa Corwin, Wylder Corwin Kelly, L.L.P., Bloomington, Illinois

Defendant's Attorney:

Description: Merlon Dukes, Bob Blessing and John Watkins sued Honeywell International Inc. on a products liability theory for the wrongful deaths of their husbands from asbestosis. They claimed that Honeywell International Inc, through its corporate predecessor Bendix, conspired with other companies, including UNARCO, Johns-Manville, Raybestos-Manhattan, Owens-Illinois, Owens Corning and Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., to not disclose information about the hazards of asbestos. Plaintiffs further alleged that the firms also agreed not to warn their employees and customers of the dangers of the substance, according to the lawsuit.

The defenses asserted are not available.

Outcome: Plaintiffs' verdict for $5.5 million.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: Editor's Note: The Sumner Simpson papers discovered more than twenty years ago under and stair case proved that executives at Johns-Manville and Raybestos-Manhattan knew that asbestos was very dangerous to humans and was causing and would continue to cause illness and death to those who came into contact with it at work and in their homes.