South Carolina Jury Returns $1.75 Million Judgment in Workplace Mesothelioma Death

Simon Greenstone Panatier attorneys secure verdict for widow of maintenance worker

Simon Greenstone Panatier trial lawyers secured a $1.75 million jury verdict for the family of a South Carolina maintenance worker who died from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure at his workplace.

Curtis Wayne Bolton was responsible for replacing gaskets and packing on valves, pumps and other equipment at the Spartanburg, S.C.-area Celanese factory throughout the 1970s.

Despite the high concentration of chrysotile asbestos in the gaskets and packing, workers were never warned of potential dangers or advised on proper handling by the company now known as John Crane Inc., the maker of some of the gaskets and packing to which Mr. Bolton was exposed. He was also exposed to amosite asbestos from insulation that he had to remove to access equipment at the plant, including flanges and valve and pump stems.

“Despite all evidence to the contrary, to this day John Crane refuses to acknowledge its role in the personal tragedies such as Mr. Bolton’s death caused by the turning of a blind eye to the dangers of its asbestos-containing products,” said Simon Greenstone Panatier attorney Holly Peterson, who represented Mr. Bolton’s widow, Melba. “The company’s inaction in the face of overwhelming knowledge that its products could cause injury indicated a level of negligence that the jury felt warranted significant penalty.”

Melba Bolton was represented at trial by Ms. Peterson and Frank Wathen of Simon Greenstone Panatier and Theile McVey of Kassel McVey.

The case is Bolton v. Honeywell International et al., case number 2021CP4202480, in the 7th Judicial Circuit of South Carolina, and was heard by former South Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Jean Toal on a special asbestos docket. The trial was livestreamed by Courtroom View Network.

About Simon Greenstone Panatier

With offices in Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and New York City, Simon Greenstone Panatier, PC, is a nationally recognized trial firm with a reputation for exemplary and zealous representation of clients in a wide variety of litigation areas, including toxic torts, mass torts, product liability and catastrophic personal injury matters.

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