Contributors

Womble Bond Dickinson client Cleaver-Brooks, Inc. earned a trial victory in an asbestos trial in York County, S.C. Attorney Elizabeth O’Neill represented Cleaver-Brooks in the successful defense, as did Steve Pugh of Richardson Plowden. Womble Bond Dickinson was brought in as counsel less than one month before trial.

The plaintiff was the family of a deceased man who suffered from mesothelioma, which the family blamed on exposure to asbestos from a Cleaver-Brooks product. The plaintiffs sought more than $20 million in damages.

The trial took place March 12-21 in the Court of Common Pleas in York County. O’Neill and the defense team presented strong evidence supporting the defense case and in just 90 minutes, the jury returned a complete defense verdict.

Cleaver-Brooks is a Georgia-based manufacturer of boiler room products and systems.

Elizabeth O’Neill focuses her practice on defending clients in complex litigation matters involving product liability, toxic torts, and professional responsibility.  She has defended and tried cases across the country involving claims related to asbestos, aviation, constitutional torts, legal malpractice, premises liability and product liability. An experienced trial lawyer, O’Neill has represented clients in trials in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin.