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Torts
Personal Injury
Asbestos Exposure

Ray Kinsman, Jo Kinsman v. Unocal Corporation, et al.

Published: Nov. 11, 2000 | Result Date: Sep. 11, 2000 | Filing Date: Jan. 1, 1900 |

Case number: 308646 Verdict –  $3,726,160

Judge

Paul H. Alvarado

Court

San Francisco Superior


Attorneys

Plaintiff

Charles C. Kelly


Defendant

Robert M. Channel

Ingrid K. Campagne

Allan W. Ruggles


Experts

Plaintiff

Barry R. Horn M.D.
(medical)

Charles W. Ay
(technical)

William Nicholson
(technical)

Samuel P. Hammar
(medical)

Robert W. Johnson CPA
(technical)

Barry Castleman
(technical)

Defendant

William G. Hughson
(medical)

Facts

Ray Kinsman was a 78 years old resident of Long Beach, who suffered from mesothelioma. Ray Kinsman was
exposed to asbestos during the 1950s while working at Unocal Corporation in Wilmington. Thereafter, he was
exposed to asbestos while working as a carpenter in the residential and commercial construction industry in
southern California in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
While working at Unocal's Wilmington refinery, Ray Kinsman built and disassembled scaffolding for use by
pipe fitters and insulators. He claimed exposure to asbestos from asbestos debris on the scaffolding, and from
working within close proximity of insulators as he erected or disassembled the scaffolding.
The plaintiffs sought damages for personal injury and loss of consortium.

Other Information

At the conclusion of testimony, the defendants stipulated that Ray Kinsman was indeed exposed during his work at its Wilmington refinery. The court entered a directed verdict in favor of plaintiffs on the issue of causation. The jury found for the plaintiffs on the causes of action for negligent use, maintenance and management of premises and for the plaintiff wife's loss of consortium claim. Ray Kinsman died from complications of his mesothelioma on Oct. 16, 2000, just three weeks after the jury reached its verdict.

Deliberation

two days and two hours

Length

two weeks


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