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Exxon Asbestos Case Ready For Jury
By asbestoshub | December 3, 2008
Stanley Morton was an electrician for 33 years at the Newport News shipyard before he retired. In late 2005 Stanley began feeling sick. He had a lung removed and was dead by December 2007, at age 72.
A two-week jury trial now in the closing stage in Newport News Circuit Court accuses Exxon, owner of some of the ships Morton worked on at the Newport News yard, of negligently causing his death.
The suit against a company that owned the ships rather than against the supplier of the parts is a new approach. Most of the cases brought annually are against the parts providers rather than the shipping lines and ship owners.
The suit is brought by Nancy Morton, Stanley Morton’s widow, and contends that Exxon knew of the health risks of asbestos as early as 1937, but failed to take steps to prevent harm.
Stanley Morton worked on many kinds of ships over the years, including new construction Navy aircraft carriers such as the USS America and USS Enterprise, cargo ships and other vessels.
During the trial, Morton spoke to jurors on a previously recorded videotape, speaking of his work at the yard.
Though he didn’t work directly with asbestos products, the suit alleges that Morton was exposed to asbestos when other workers ripped asbestos insulation and other parts from piping in engine and boiler rooms.
Exxon began instituting asbestos regulations at its refineries nationwide in 1937, educating workers about the dangers of asbestos. Why did they not also warn workers at shipyards or on its own tanker crews?
The Newport News shipyard is part of the federal worker’s compensation program so it cannot be sued for most asbestos-related injuries.
Closing arguments took place in late November and jury deliberations are expected to begin soon.
