Miami Jury Rejects $18.6 Million Claim in Asbestos-Related Wrongful Death Trial Named among the “Top Ten Defense Verdicts” of 2015 and the “Top Super Six Trials of 2015” for defense verdicts in Florida by CVN. Read the Article.   UPDATE:  Decision affirmed on appeal. Read the attached opinion issued January 4, 2017.

Gonzalez v. Caterpillar Inc., et al., case number 2013-CA-031838, 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida in Miami-Dade County

On August 3, 2015, after less than 3 hours of deliberations, a Miami-Dade County jury found Caterpillar Inc., and Dana Co. LLC, not liable for the death of a mechanic who died of mesothelioma after allegedly working with asbestos-containing parts manufactured by the companies. The six-member jury unanimously rejected the $18.6 million dollar claim against Caterpillar and co-defendant Dana Co. LLC.

The decedent, Pablo Gonzalez, died at age 79 in 2011, less than three months after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. The suit, brought by his surviving family, sought $18.6 million in damages. Closing arguments ended in this 14-day trial with the defendants arguing there was no proof that the decedent had developed mesothelioma from the use of their products.

The trial team defending Caterpillar Inc. consisted of lead attorney Jose Gaitan of The Gaitan Group PLLC, and Timothy J. Ferguson and Beranton J. Whisenant, Jr. of Foley & Mansfield, PLLP.