TRUMBULL COUNTY Asbestos cases will choke courts, judge says

The average asbestos trial lasts about two weeks.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- News that a Cincinnati law firm is planning to file an additional 200 to 250 asbestos related lawsuits in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court has at least one judge concerned about how the court will handle the caseload.
Judge W. Wyatt McKay noted this week that Atty. Stephen Mazzei, who already has an asbestos related case pending in Judge McKay's court, told the judge that he has up to 250 additional plaintiffs.
"The judicial system of our county is not equipped to handle such a burden with the present number of judges and employees," Judge McKay said.
The judge said that the court would probably have to ask the state Supreme Court for visiting judges to be assigned and hire additional court reporters.
"The average asbestos case trial takes about two weeks," Judge McKay said. "Also, most of these cases have many defendants."
Plaintiff, defendants: The current case, filed on behalf of Donald and Lorain Dennison, of Duck Creek Road, North Jackson, has 72 companies and 100 unidentified defendants.
Mazzei, of the firm Young, Reverman and Napier, said that after he files the additional suits he may ask that some of the cases be consolidated.
He said most of the lawsuits will be similar and they will discuss the injuries that the plaintiffs suffered from being exposed to asbestos or asbestos related products. The suits that will be filed in Trumbull County will involve plaintiffs who were exposed to asbestos or asbestos related products while working in Trumbull County, Mazzei said.
Mazzei noted that once the suits are filed and depositions are taken, some defendants may be dismissed from the suit.
Mazzei noted his law firm has also filed asbestos related suits in Mahoning County and other counties in Ohio. He said additional plaintiffs may be tacked on to those lawsuits.
Allegations: According to the Dennison suit, Dennison was exposed to asbestos and asbestos containing products while employed at various facilities in Trumbull County. Dennison worked as a carpenter and a millwright, the suit says.
The exposure to the asbestos products caused Dennison to suffer "asbestos-related lung disease and other related physical conditions," the lawsuit states.
The suit further notes that because of his illness, Dennison has and will have to continue hiring domestic help and nursing care.
Dennison is seeking more than $25,000 in compensatory damages and more than $25,000 in punitive damages.