Goodyear ordered to pay $22 million in asbestos case

ERJ staff report (DS)

New York -- The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Goodyear Canada have been ordered to pay around $22 million as damages following a trial in New York State. During the 1960s and 1970s Goodyear made steam gaskets using asbestos, and the court found that Goodyear was partially responsible for causing lung cancers in the defendants, both of whom were smokers.

After a 5 week jury trial in New York State Supreme Court, the jury returned a verdict on behalf of two clients of law firm Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C.

Walter Koczur was exposed to Goodyear asbestos containing gaskets while working as a steamfitter between 1969 and 1973 at a number of upstate Buffalo area job sites, including Republic Steel and Ashland Oil. The jury found The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company 27 percent responsible and Goodyear Canada 18 percent responsible for causing Koczur's lung cancer. They awarded the Koczur family 11.6 million dollars in pain and suffering damages and also awarded Mrs. Koczur 1.9 million dollars in loss of consortium stemming from her husband's death in 1998.

The jury found The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company 7 percent responsible and Goodyear Canada 5 percent responsible for causing Eugene “Mac” McCarthy's lung cancer. They awarded the McCarthy family 8.5 million dollars in pain and suffering damages. The McCarthy case was filed by Weitz & Luxenberg shortly after McCarthy's death in 1998.

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Press release from Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C.