Los Angeles jury awards $32.5 million in punitive damages in asbestos case

This verdict happened last month but we neglected to report it at the time.  HarrisMartin reported (subscription required) that an L.A. jury awarded $6.5 million in compensatory damages and $32.5 million in punitive damages.  The plaintiffs are the family of a former General Motors employee who died from mesothelioma.  The defendant, BorgWarner, manufactured asbestos-containing clutches.  We’ll keep an eye on this one as it proceeds to posttrial motions and appeal.