Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.

Help support the publication of case reports on MoreLaw

Sandra Kay Oney, Executor of the Estate of Sharon Vaughn Oney, deceased v. John Crane, Inc.

Date: 04-12-2007

Case Number: 00301TF

Judge: Timothy S. Fisher

Court: Circuit Court, Newport News, Virginia

Plaintiff's Attorney: <P><a href="http://www.morelaw.com/lawyers/atty.asp?f=Robert&l=Hatten&i=36106" target="_new">Bobby Hatten</a> and <a href="http://www.morelaw.com/lawyers/atty.asp?f=J%2E&l=Metcalf&i=38274&z=80302" target="_new">Conard Metcalf</a> of Patten, Wornom, Hatten and Diamonstein, Newport News, Virginia

Defendant's Attorney: Arch Wallace and Dan O’Connell of Wallace & Pledger, Richmond, Virginia represented John Crane Inc.

Description:

The Family and Estate of Vaughn Oney sued John Crane, Inc. and Garlock Sealing Technologies on a products liability theory claiming the asbestos containing product that they manufactured and sold to the United States Navy directly caused former shipyard worker Vaughn Oney to contract asbestosis and to died therefrom. Vaughn Oney, a machinist who worked at Newport News Shipbuilding for 31 years from 1963 to 1994, died last year of mesothelioma, a deadly form or cancer that was triggered by breathing asbestos fibers at the yard decades earlier. Kay Oney, Vaughn's wife of 43 years and his high school sweetheart, watched her husband struggle with the cancer for two years between the time he was first diagnosed in 2004 until he died in November. Plaintiff claimed that Oney needed an incredible amount of narcotics to endure the pain every day. It was intractable pain - pain so high that narcotics can't control it. The last six weeks of his life, he was in horrific condition.

The defenses asserted by Defendants are not available.

Outcome:

Plaintiff's verdict with a finding that 60 percent of the total, or $5.55 million, should be paid by John Crane, which manufactured gaskets and sealants made with asbestos. The jury further found that 40 percent, or $3.7 million, should be borne by Garlock, a Palmyra, N.Y.-based company that competed with John Crane in making the same products. Garlock settled before trial for an undisclosed sum.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Dr. Richard Lemen – epidemiologist for NIOSHDr. Bill Longo – expert materials analystJerry Lauderdale – industrial hygienistDr. John Maddox – pathologist and expert on asbestos causationDr. John Kessler – oncologistLinda Marroletti – expert on pain management

Defendant's Experts:

Dr. James Crapo – pulmonologist; testified that chrysotile does not cause mesotheliomaDr. Michael Matteson – doctor of chemical engineering; testified that John Crane’s asbestos products released little or no asbestos fibers

Comments:

Editor's Note: About 2,000 new mesothelioma are diagnosed each year. The disease is always fatal and is caused by exposure to asbestos.

About This Case

What was the outcome of Sandra Kay Oney, Executor of the Estate of Sharon Vaughn ...?

The outcome was: Plaintiff's verdict with a finding that 60 percent of the total, or $5.55 million, should be paid by John Crane, which manufactured gaskets and sealants made with asbestos. The jury further found that 40 percent, or $3.7 million, should be borne by Garlock, a Palmyra, N.Y.-based company that competed with John Crane in making the same products. Garlock settled before trial for an undisclosed sum.

Which court heard Sandra Kay Oney, Executor of the Estate of Sharon Vaughn ...?

This case was heard in Circuit Court, Newport News, Virginia, VA. The presiding judge was Timothy S. Fisher.

Who were the attorneys in Sandra Kay Oney, Executor of the Estate of Sharon Vaughn ...?

Plaintiff's attorney: Bobby Hatten and Conard Metcalf of Patten, Wornom, Hatten and Diamonstein, Newport News, Virginia. Defendant's attorney: Arch Wallace and Dan O’Connell of Wallace & Pledger, Richmond, Virginia represented John Crane Inc..

When was Sandra Kay Oney, Executor of the Estate of Sharon Vaughn ... decided?

This case was decided on April 12, 2007.