TRENTON — A state appellate court today has upheld a $7 million award to a woman who contracted mesothelioma after laundering her husband's asbestos-laden clothing. Bonnie Anderson's husband, John, worked at Exxon's Linden Bayway Refinery in Linden from 1969 to 2004, according to the decision. She also worked at the refinery, from 1975 to 1986. During her husband's employment,...
Bonnie Anderson has been gravely ill from Mesothelioma, an asbestos disease, and talks about her fight for survival at her home in Linden, in this 2007 photo.TRENTON — A state appellate court today has upheld a $7 million award to a woman who contracted mesothelioma after laundering her husband's asbestos-laden clothing.
Bonnie Anderson's husband, John, worked at Exxon's Linden Bayway Refinery in Linden from 1969 to 2004, according to the decision. She also worked at the refinery, from 1975 to 1986. During her husband's employment, Anderson would wash his clothing and shake out the dust.
In 2001, Anderson suffered stomach pains and swelling. A surgeon subsequently removed six quarts of fluid and found "multiple tumor implants," the decision said. She was diagnosed with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma.
"This case presents a novel scenario of a single injury arising after a long latency period caused by one of two, or both, asbestos exposures," the appeals court said in its decision.
Exxon argued the Andersons' case should have been handled by worker's compensation.
"In summary, we reject all of Exxon's contentions," the court ruled in upholding the $7 million award to Anderson and $500,000 to her husband.