Universal Engineering

In what may be the largest single award for an asbestos case in New Jersey, a former boiler repairman with mesothelioma has been awarded $10 million by a Middlesex County jury. William Rhodes, 68, of Hawthorne spent more than 40 years repairing boilers in Bergen County, often using asbestos-insulated parts. The jury in Rhodes v. AOC Smith found Universal Engineering in Montville liable and awarded Rhodes $7 million for pain and suffering, and his wife $3 million for loss of consortium. Observers said the $10 million may be the highest asbestos award in New Jersey, although there have been higher ones in other states. There were several other defendants when the case was filed several years ago, but Universal was the only one to stand trial. Rhodes was represented by Szaferman Lakind Blumstein Blader & Lehmann in Lawrenceville and at trial by Moshe Maimon of Levy Phillips & Konigsberg in New York. Universal was represented by Hoagland, Longo, Moran, Dunst & Doukas and at trial by H. Lane Young III of Hawkins & Parnell in Atlanta. (Aug-10-05)

[Informaion Provided By: Szaferman, Lakind, Blumstein Blader & Lehmann]

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