Gonzalez v. Caterpillar, et al.
Aug 03, 2015OUTCOME: Defense Verdict
On August 3, 2015, HPTY helped secure a jury defense verdict for Dana Companies, LLC in Miami, Florida in the wrongful death trial of Gonzalez v. Caterpillar, et al. Plaintiff alleged that Mr. Gonzalez ... ’s pleural mesothelioma was caused, in part, by his work with various products. The decedent was a self-employed mechanic in Miami and Homestead, Florida, who specialized in automotive work on heavy equipment such as tractors, backhoes, and bulldozers. From the 1970’s until the 1990’s, he performed automotive work that included engine, clutch, and brake work. Caterpillar Corporation was the only other defendant at trial. James Powers of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP was lead counsel, assisted by HPTY’s Frances Lopez and the Florida Asbestos team. After two hours of deliberations, the jury of three men and three women returned a defense verdict for Defendants Dana Companies, LLC, and Caterpillar Corporation. Plaintiff’s experts were Eugene Mark, Murray Finkelstein, Arnold Brody, Steven Compton and Barry Castleman. Defendants called experts Victor Roggli, James Crapo, David Garabrant, Fred Boelter, Brett Finley and Suresh Moolgavkar.
