On August 14, 2013, a Los Angeles, CA jury found in favor of the family of a 79 year old man who died in 2010 of mesothelioma and awarded $38.891 million in total damages, $6.39 million to compensate the family’s loss, and $32.5 million to punish asbestos clutch maker Borg Warner who the jury found acted with malice and oppression in its conduct of making and selling automotive clutches from 1928 through at least 1989. Trial lasted approximately 4 weeks beginning on July 16, 2013. Defendant Borg Warner was found 35% responsible for the death and its automotive clutches found to be defective in that the products failed to carry adequate warnings regarding the deadly asbestos content and associated health risk. Firm Founder Simona A. Farrise, LL.M. of Farrise Law Firm of Los Angeles tried the case for plaintiffs. Borg Warner was represented by Jerry Popovich of Selman Breitman, Santa Ana; Steve Michel of Booth, Mitchel & Strange law firm of Los Angeles, and Elizabeth Pfiefer of the Pfiefer Law Firm, Dallas, Texas.
The decedent was exposed to asbestos from Borg Warner clutches while working at the General Motors Assembly Plant in Van Nuys, CA from 1959 through 1988. The decedent was a hardworking 79 year old father, grandfather and great grandfather in exceptional health before being diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2010.
Simona Farrise has been representing victims of asbestos-related disease for almost two decades. Without trial lawyers like Simona Farrise, willing to take on even the most complex cases, up against huge defendants, families like the one of this 79 year old, healthy, hardworking father, grandfather and great-grandfather, would never see justice and consumers at-large would be at the mercy of big corporations focused only on profit.
Congratulations on the results of this 4 week trial and “thank you” Mrs. Farrise for fighting tirelessly to right wrongs every day on behalf of consumers and their families!
Senior Vice President, Client Services
