TACOMA, Wash., April 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A jury this
week was unanimous in its finding that NAPA Auto Parts and Genuine
Parts Corp. (NYSE:GPC) were liable in the asbestos-related death of
a heavy equipment operator and awarded his survivors $81.5 million.
In its verdict, the jury found that GPC and NAPA were negligent
and strictly liable for their defective asbestos-containing
products, used by Jerry "Doy" Coogan of Kettle Falls, Washington. Mr. Coogan died in
2015 at the age of 67 of complications from mesothelioma, a deadly
cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure.
"Many sellers of friction parts such as brakes, clutches and
gaskets have known for nearly a century that their products contain
asbestos and can kill. But they refuse to acknowledge their
responsibility," said Dallas
attorney Jessica Dean of Dean
Omar & Branham, LLP, who along with attorney
Ben Adams, represented the Coogan
family. "Even worse, some continued to sell these products until
2001, which means that other families will surely suffer the same
fate."
Mr. Coogan, who learned to be an excavator from his grandfather,
operated and repaired backhoes, cranes and other construction
equipment for many years, exposing him to asbestos products made or
sold by the defendants. Mr. Coogan also loved restoring hot rod and
classic cars. His hobby led him to often purchase
asbestos-containing parts from NAPA stores near his home in
northeast Washington.
"Doy Coogan had no idea that he
was being exposed to deadly asbestos from just doing what he
enjoyed," Ms. Dean said.
The $81.5 million verdict is
believed to be among the largest ever awarded in Washington. The trial, heard in Pierce County
Superior Court in Tacoma, lasted
more than 12 weeks. The jury returned its verdict after five hours
of deliberations.
The case is Gerri Coogan,
et al. v. Genuine Parts Co. et al., No. 15-2-09504-3 in Pierce
County Superior Court in Tacoma,
Washington.
Dean Omar & Branham, LLP, is
a nationally recognized trial firm that handles cases across the
country for individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries or
have died as a result of irresponsible conduct of others. For more
information, please visit http://www.dobllp.com.
For more information, please contact Jason Sickles at 214-559-4630 or
jason@androvett.com.
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SOURCE Dean Omar & Branham,
LLP