The family of a former electrician was awarded a $2.3 million settlement as a result of his workplace exposure to asbestos.
Charlie Piazza, of Santa Clara, CA died of mesothelioma at age 62 in May 2005, less than 6 weeks after being diagnosed with the asbestos-caused disease. The suit claimed that Mr. Piazza was exposed to asbestos products manufactured by Houston-based Union Carbide Corp.; Atlanta-based Georgia-Pacific Corp.; San Carlos, Calif.-based Kelly-Moore Paint Co. Inc.; Orange, Calif.-based Hamilton Materials Inc.; Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Gypsum Co. Inc.; and Valley Forge, Pennsylvania-based CertainTeed Corporation.
Mr. Piazza worked both as an electrician and as a construction subcontractor in the Santa Clara area for more than 40 years. According to an article in Insurance NewsNet, documents in the case showed that the defendants “knew about the dangers of asbestos for years, but failed to protect Mr. Piazza from being exposed and failed to warn him about the deadly side effects of his exposure.â€Â
“This is a significant settlement, and the attorneys are very pleased to be able to secure this award for the Piazza family,†said the Piazza family’s attorney, Russell W. Budd. “Charlie Piazza was a hard worker who provided for his wife and grandson, and we hope today’s settlement will help them move forward with their lives.â€Â
