New York Mesothelioma Law Firm Belluck & Fox Wins $7 Million Verdict for Police Officer Exposed to Asbestos as a Young Man

    NEW YORK, NY, September 20, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- A Police Officer who developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos in a prior career has won a $7 million verdict against Jenkins Bros., a manufacturer of the asbestos-containing valves responsible for his disease, New York law firm Belluck & Fox, LLP announced today. This represents one of the highest jury awards obtained in an asbestos case in Upstate New York.

In a trial before the Honorable Deborah Chimes in the Supreme Court of The State of New York, County of Erie, the jury unanimously found Jenkins Bros. 50% responsible for the development of James Stock, Jr.'s mesothelioma – a deadly, incurable form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The jury also unanimously found that Jenkins Bros. had a duty to warn Mr. Stock about the hazards of asbestos exposure associated with its valves, but that it failed to do so, and that its negligence was a cause of Mr. Stock's mesothelioma. Mr. Stock and his wife, Lynn M. Stock, were awarded nearly $7 million for pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and loss of earnings. The case is James Stock, Jr. and Lynn M. Stock v. AIR & LIQUID SYSTEMS CORPORATION, as Successor by Merger to Buffalo Pumps, In., et al., (No. 807846/2017).

James Stock, Jr. is a 60 year-old police officer in the town of Atlanta, Georgia, who was diagnosed with incurable mesothelioma on January 18, 2017. In 1979, when he was just 21 years old, Mr. Stock went to work at the NY Wire Mills factory in Tonawanda, New York, a decision he couldn't know would have profound consequences for the rest of his life. Mr. Stock began as a laborer, but was quickly elevated to supervisor. It was during his years at NY Wire Mills that he was exposed to asbestos in valves manufactured by Jenkins. During the routine and necessary maintenance and repair of these valves, Mr. Stock would breathe in lethal asbestos fibers, which eventually led to his development of mesothelioma.

"James Stock is suffering because of business decisions that Jenkins Bros. made to increase its profits. We're thankful that the jury has held Jenkins responsible for its actions, and we're hopeful that the jury's verdict provides some measure of justice and comfort to the Stock family," said James Long, senior litigator at Belluck & Fox, LLP, who led the firm's trial team. Mr. Long has a distinguished history fighting for people's rights, and in 2017 was named Best Lawyers' "Lawyer of the Year" in Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Plaintiffs for the New York City Metro Area.

Belluck & Fox, LLP associate William Papain tried the case with Mr. Long, and the trial team was assisted by partner Seth Dymond.

Asbestos is a mineral that has been linked to lung cancer and mesothelioma, an aggressive and deadly form of cancer which results from breathing in asbestos fibers that become lodged in the thin membrane that lines and encases the lungs.

At trial, lawyers from Belluck & Fox, LLP presented evidence from a series of experts on the use of asbestos components in Jenkins valves, the state-of-the-art evidence relating to the dangers of asbestos, the causation of Mr. Stock's mesothelioma, and the severe impact mesothelioma will have on Mr. Stock's and his family's lives, including the economic impact that will result from his untimely death.

Jenkins was represented by Jeffrey Fegan from Clyde & Co.

"This verdict continues Belluck & Fox's tremendous track record of getting the most compensation for Upstate New York's mesothelioma and lung cancer victims, " said Joseph W. Belluck, one of Belluck & Fox's founding partners.

Belluck & Fox, LLP was founded in 2002 and has been advocating for mesothelioma patients for over 16 years. The attorneys at Belluck & Fox help injured people recover damages resulting from asbestos, unsafe products, mesothelioma, toxic chemicals, construction accidents and serious injuries. Belluck & Fox, LLP is listed as one of America's best law firms by U.S. News & World Report and a number of their attorneys appear in Best Lawyers magazine. Joseph Belluck has obtained an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell (the highest ethical rating for lawyers). Jordan Fox is one of the nation's top mesothelioma lawyers in the United States and was named "2013 Plaintiff Lawyer of the Year" for the NY metro area by Best Lawyers. He has had two mesothelioma verdicts recognized as among The National Law Journals' Largest Verdicts of the Year.

Belluck & Fox, LLP has secured more than $950 million in claims for their clients.

Belluck & Fox, LLP also have locations at Rochester, Albany, and Woodstock, New York.

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