Jury awards Collinsville man $100000 in asbestosis trial - Gadsden Times

<p>An Etowah County jury has awarded $100,000 to a Collinsville man in the state's first asbestosis case in two decades, according to an attorney involved in the case.</p><p>Robert Norwood, 70, a retired machinist who worked at Republic Steel, filed the suit in 2011 against John Crane Inc., which used asbestos in its product.</p><p>Attorney Allen Dodd of Scruggs, Dodd and Brisendine of Fort Payne said the trial before Circuit Judge David Kimberley lasted two weeks.</p><p>Dodd said the verdict Friday found Crane was negligent, wanton and had violated Alabama's product liability statute. </p><p>He said Norwood worked around asbestos and products containing asbestos at Republic Steel from 1965 to 2000 and eventually developed severe asbestosis and asbestos-related pleural thickening. </p><p>He said Crane admitted it knew asbestos was dangerous as early as 1970, but failed to warn of the hazards associated with asbestos for 13 years. </p><p>“Most people think asbestos exposure was a thing of the past, but asbestos diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis take decades to develop,” Dodd said.</p><p>An attorney for the defense did not return a call requesting comment.</p>