An Alameda County jury found asbestos supplier Plant Insulation liable for mesothelioma. (Ulysses Collins and Cloristeen Collins v. Plant Insulation Company, Alameda County Superior Court No. RG0414330)

Ulysses Collins died of mesothelioma at the age of sixty-five. He was a welder at Hunters Point Naval Shipyard from 1960-1973, a welder/boilermaker at Standard Oil in Richmond, California from 1973-1976, and a welder at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California from 1976-1994.

The case settled before trial with various defendants and proceeded to trial only against Plant Insulation. Plant was the exclusive Northern California supplier of asbestos-containing thermal insulation manufactured by Pabco/Fibreboard in Emeryville, California. Plant also was an insulation contractor at numerous industrial and commercial sites in Northern California.

Trial commenced on October 2, 2008 and the jury returned a verdict on November 6, 2008. The jury verdict for plaintiffs was $10,038,000, which included $1,038,000 in economic damages. The jury determined that Plant was 20% liable for Mr. Collins’ mesothelioma.

Ulysses Collins, Cloristeen Collins, and Patricia Collins were represented at trial by the late Kazan Law principal Phillip Harley and associate Matt Thiel.