Union Carbide wins asbestos lawsuit on 2nd try

[April 28, 2012]  JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- An asbestos lawsuit that once resulted in a $322 million verdict for a Mississippi man has turned in favor of the company he sued.

Thomas Brown's lawyers had called the last year's verdict the largest asbestos award for a single plaintiff in U.S. history. But it wasn't long before the Mississippi Supreme Court removed the Smith County judge, saying he did not disclose that his parents were involved in similar asbestos litigation.

A new judge threw out the verdict and ordered another trial. The lawsuit was moved to Jones County, where a jury on Wednesday ruled in favor of Union Carbide Corp.

Brown claimed he contracted asbestosis after inhaling asbestos dust while mixing drilling mud manufactured by Union Carbide.

[Associated Press; By HOLBROOK MOHR]

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