Notable Workplace Injury Settlements

$5.2 Billion: Asbestos Exposure at Owens Corning

The biggest asbestos-related settlement in history took place in 2006 when Owens Corning, a major supplier of asbestos-based fireproofing and insulation, agreed to pay $5.2 billion in cash and stock equities to former employees, their families, and others who were victims of asbestos poisoning from their products. Asbestos was a major commercial product in the 20 th century, and more than 25 million workers were exposed to this hazardous carcinogen between 1940 and 1980. Lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other health problems associated with asbestos have decades-long latency periods, so many more people who were exposed are expected to develop problems in the future.

$36.4 Million: Oil Worker Killed on the Job

In 2003, the widow and five children of an oil worker employed by Motiva received a total of $36.4 million when the worker was killed in a tank explosion. The company had been cited repeatedly for violating safety regulations, and multiple inspections in the weeks leading up to the incident showed that the tank was badly in need of repair. The settlement helped both sides avoid a wrongful death trial in court. Six other workers were injured in the accident, and Motiva was also fined $296,000 by government regulatory agencies.

$19 Million: Ironworker Paralyzed in Construction-site Fall

In a notable construction accident case, an ironworker was rendered quadriplegic when he fell 13 feet, breaking his neck. The worker’s attorney, Mark LeWinter of Anapol Schwartz, secured a $19 million settlement after showing that the worker’s fall was the result of a policy that allowed employees to work unprotected at heights up to 30 feet despite the recommendations of a professional safety expert.

$16 Million: Worker Falls During Demolition

During the demolition of a Pepsi plant in Long Island City, an asbestos handler fell 23 feet from an unsafe scaffold, sustaining serious injuries. The worker and his wife received $16 million in compensation for the incident after showing that working conditions were unsafe.

$4.5 Million: Barge Worker Loses Leg after Injury

24-year-old barge worker-in-training James Talbot lost his leg in an accident in 2004 when the leg was pinned between two barges on the Chicago River in Illinois. James lawyer, John Perconti of Levin & Perconti, successfully argued that Talbot was insufficiently trained for the work he was asked to perform, and that his injury was the result of that failure on the part of his superiors. The parties settled out of court, and Talbot was awarded $4.5 million for pain and suffering, disability and disfigurement, and lost wages under the Jones Act.

Locate an Attorney to Handle Your Workplace Injury Case

If you or one of your loved ones has been injured while at work, you may be entitled to compensation from your employer and other parties. Unsafe equipment, hazardous materials, inadequate safety regulations, and many other workplace risks can form the basis for a major lawsuit. If you have been injured, contact an experienced attorney who can help you.