New Jersey Mesothelioma Attorneys Win $7.5M Asbestos Verdict

NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, January 15, 2015 – William and Debbie Condon of Lake Hopatcong, NJ – represented by mesothelioma attorneys, including lead counsel Moshe Maimon of Levy Konigsberg LLP – won a month-long trial against Pecora Corporation1. The jury verdict awarded $6.5M in compensatory damages for Mr. Condon’s asbestos-caused mesothelioma. The jury also determined that Pecora had acted in wanton and willful disregard of his rights – and further awarded $1M in punitive damages.

Known to his co-workers as “Billy Boiler,” Mr. Condon, who is currently 67 years old, installed heating and air conditioning systems, including boilers, for 11 years (1973-1984) while he was employed at Fritze Heating and Cooling of Whippany, New Jersey. Asbestos, including Pecora’s Asbestos Furnace Cement, came with the boilers he installed, and it was Mr. Condon’s exposure to these products that resulted in him developing mesothelioma, terminal cancer, in June of 2013. Mr. Condon testified in Court that, prior to being diagnosed with mesothelioma, he had a “great life,” which includes his “wonderful wife” (they have been together for 50 years), and two children.

The evidence presented at trial showed that before Mr. Condon ever worked with its Asbestos Furnace Cement, Pecora was warned about the hazards of asbestos by its own asbestos suppliers. Yet, Pecora took no action to eliminate the hazards of asbestos from its product or to warn Mr. Condon (or others) about those hazards so that he could protect himself. Finally, the evidence showed that, during the time period in which Mr. Condon was working with Pecora’s Asbestos Furnace Cement, Pecora’s own president was diagnosed with mesothelioma and filed his own lawsuit seeking justice for his asbestos-related cancer. Despite this, Pecora did not stop making asbestos-containing products and removed asbestos from its products only 5 years later when its insurers would no longer cover the asbestos-related risk.

After considering the evidence, the jury awarded $1M in punitive damages against Pecora. The Honorable Ana C. Viscomi – Superior Court Judge – presided over the trial. Punitive damages are designed to punish a wrongdoer for particularly egregious conduct and to deter that party from future misconduct2.

Levy Konigsberg LLP is a nationally recognized asbestos litigation firm specializing in the representation of mesothelioma and lung cancer victims for close to 30 years.

For more information about this verdict, please contact New Jersey mesothelioma attorneys Moshe Maimon or Amber Long at 1-800-MESO-LAW (1-800-637-6529) or by email inquiry to mmaimon@levylaw.com.

Categories