Date: 08-06-1999

Case Style: Isaura Enriquez, Individually and as Personal Representative of the Heirs of the Estate of Patricio Sanchez, Jr., v. United States Gypsum Company and National Gypsum Company

Case Number: 96-2807

Judge: Javier Alvarez

Court: County Court at Law Number 3, El Paso County, Texas

Plaintiff's Attorney: Rick Nemeroff and Jennifer Kinder of Baron & Budd, Dallas, Texas, and Enrique Moreno of Moreno & Fry, El Paso, Texas

Defendant's Attorney: Eric Wiewers and William Fynes of DeHay & Elliston, L.L.P., Dallas, Texas and

Description: Products liability - wrongful death - asbestos. Family of a custodian who worked for the El Paso Independent School District from 1962 to 1993 brough wrongful death claim against defendants. Mr. Sanchez died from an asbestos disease called Mesothelioma. He was exposed to Gold Bond Joint Compound, a National Gypsum Company product, and Durabond Joint Compound, a United States Gypsum Company product. Mr. Sanchez worked with and around these abestos-containing joint compund products.

Outcome: Plaintiffs' verdict for $6,500,000.

Plaintiff's Experts: Dr. Hector Battifora, Durate, California; Dr. Garry Castelman, Baltimore, Maryland; Richard Hatfield, Suwanee, Georgia and Javier Corral, El Paso, Texas

Defendant's Experts: None

Comments: None