A $7 million verdict awarded to the wife of a New Jersey worker who developed mesothelioma after handling her husband's laundry has been upheld by the New Jersey Appelate Court.

The husband worked at the Exxon Refinery in Linden, NJ, and during that time was exposed to asbestos while renovating the insulation at the plant. Although the company equipped the workers with helmets, it did not provide respirators, which would have protected against the asbestos.

The first successful legal action taken against a company for irresponsible exposure to asbestos was a similar case in New Jersey. In 1981, a woman sued the Union Asbestos and Rubber Company for her mesothelioma, which she developed after washing her husband’s clothes.

The court rejected Exxon’s counter-claim that the woman (also an ex-Exxon employee) should have been required to seek benefits under workers’ compensation.

If you or someone you know is seeking advice regarding workers’ compensation, contact the Charleston workers' compensation lawyers of The Steinberg Law Firm at 843-720-2800 to learn more about your rights.