In Bloomington, Illinois, an asbestos lawsuit has come to an end, and a mesothelioma victim has been awarded over $17 million. Jayne Menssen developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos in her former workplace, and has been awarded $17.87 million by the jury for the case. Menssen worked as a secretary at Union Asbestos and Rubber Co., later called Unacro Industries Inc., from 1967 to 1969.

Asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. Exposure to asbestos can also cause lung cancer and asbestosis. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and can aggressively attack the body, often killing within weeks or months of being diagnosed. While there are palliative treatment methods available, including chemo, there is no known cure for this rare cancer, which is almost exclusively linked to asbestos exposure. The disease typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms, and most patients are dead within 24 months of being diagnosed.

The defendants in the Menssen case were Pneumo Abex LLC and Honeywell International Inc., who were linked to the suit because of their corporate predecessors. The companies were charged with knowing the risks of asbestos exposure, but failing to take steps to protect their workers from the health risks associated with asbestos exposure.

The total amount of the compensatory award for Menssen was decided after the jury deliberated for a single day. The jury awarded compensatory damages of $3.5 million against both defendants, as well as punitive damages of $4.37 million against Pneumo Abex and $10 million against Honeywell.

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