The family of a woman who passed away due to an asbestos-related illness has been awarded $2.6 million by a McLean County, Illinois jury.

Jean Holmes of Bloomington, Illinois died in 2006 at the age of 93, leaving behind two sons, Roger and John Holmes, whi filed the lawsuit. The Holmes’ case lasted for three weeks before the jury decided to rule in favor of the deceased woman.

Asbestos is known to cause a number of illnesses, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Because such diseases have a latency period from twenty to fifty years they are very difficult to treat effectively. In most cases, an asbestos-related disease will reach advanced stages of development by the time it is discovered.

According to records provided by the court, Jean Holmes developed the mesothelioma as a result of laundering her husbands clothing. Donald Holmes was employed with Union Asbestos and Rubber Company (now known as UNARCO) from 1962 to 1963, where he was exposed to asbestos. Mr. Holmes transferred fibers to his home on his clothing, resulting in Jean Holmes’ secondhand exposure.

Cases of mesothelioma cancer in women as a result of secondhand exposure have increased in recent years.

Lawyers for Jean Holmes argued that she was unaware of the dangers of being exposed to asbestos and that neither she nor her husband were warned by her husband’s employer about the serious health consequences associated with exposure.

The jury took only 2 ½ hours to decide whether or not Holmes’ asbestos cancer was wrongfully caused by the companies named in the suit.

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