Baron & Budd Announces $18 Million Asbestos Verdict Against Insulation Manufacturer in El Paso.

Business Editors

EL PASO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2001

The Dallas law firm of Baron & Budd, P.C., has announced an $18 million jury verdict handed down late yesterday on behalf of a local laborer who was exposed to asbestos during a 40-year career at Phelps Dodge Copper Products in El Paso.

Miguel Agustin Calderon was diagnosed last year with asbestosis, a scarring of the lung tissue caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. His attorneys alleged that Mr. Calderon's disease was caused by exposure to an asbestos-containing product manufactured by New York-based Quigley Co. Inc., a subsidiary of Pfizer Inc. As an insulator, Mr. Calderon used Quigley Co.'s "Insulag" brand powdered insulation to protect furnaces, pipes and boilers.

The jury of five men and seven women found Quigley Co. negligent for failing to warn Mr. Calderon about the dangers of using the company's asbestos-containing product.

"The jury in this case saw the real truth of asbestos disease," according to Al Stewart, lead counsel for Mr. Calderon and a partner in Baron & Budd. "The damage that comes from asbestos exposure is never seen overnight. Mr. Calderon was first exposed to asbestos more than 45 years ago, but it took until last year before he knew he had this terrible disease."

Jurors returned their verdict after nearly five hours of deliberations in the trial that began Feb. 12. Mr. Calderon was awarded a total of $3,055,000 for past and future compensatory damages, and $15 million in punitive damages.

Mr. Stewart, lead counsel for Mr. Calderon, was assisted by Scott Frost, an associate in Baron & Budd's Dallas office.

Quigley Co. was represented by Dale Burmeister, Carlos Rincon and Tina Stamps.

If you would like more information about this case, please contact Al Stewart at 214/521-3605, or call Bruce Vincent at 214/559-4630 or pager 888/361-8452.