Results

Shepard O’Donnell litigated several mesothelioma and lung cancer cases for plaintiffs who worked with and around asbestos-containing products during their careers. One case involved a former shipyard worker who was diagnosed with mesothelioma at age 69 and another case involved a 68-year-old man was diagnosed with mesothelioma after having worked in a manufacturing facility that used asbestos products. Both men also had significant asbestos exposure from other sources including several home renovation projects and driveway automotive brake and clutch repairs. Through diligence and hard work, the Shepard O’Donnell team was able to recover millions of dollars for these clients and others over the years.

Shepard O’Donnell successfully litigated the case of a family business owner who passed away from mesothelioma.  His exposure to asbestos came from performing general maintenance and repair on the company’s work vehicles at the on-site mechanic shop.  He removed asbestos-containing gaskets, brakes, and clutches from trucks and forklifts.  The Shepard O’Donnell legal team’s hard work and perseverance resulted in a six-figure settlement for their client.

Shepard O’Donnell successfully litigated the case of a construction foreman, who also maintained a hobby of racing and working on many different automobiles, and was diagnosed with mesothelioma at the age of 74.  His work in the construction industry exposed him to asbestos from the application of joint compound and the installation of ceiling tiles at many different commercial locations throughout New England and New York.  His work on the brakes, clutches, and gaskets of the automobiles that he raced during his free time also exposed him to large amounts of asbestos.  The team at Shepard O’Donnell was able to resolve this case for a significant settlement prior to the start of trial.

Shepard O’Donnell successfully litigated the case of a former merchant marine and power house engineer who died from mesothelioma. The deceased plaintiff had attended a local merchant marine academy and served as an engineer on board a number of merchant ships. After his merchant marine service, he became a power house engineer and boiler inspector. His work in the merchant marine and in power houses and boiler rooms exposed him to significant amounts of asbestos from boilers, turbines, pumps, valves and related equipment. Shepard O’Donnell obtained a significant seven-figure sum for his spouse, which helped ease her concerns about paying for the house and living expenses in the future.

Shepard O’Donnell successfully litigated a case on behalf of a 75 year-old U.S. Army veteran who served as a crew chief of Army aircraft at multiple bases in Vietnam. The Plaintiff was exposed to asbestos from maintenance work that was performed on the brakes, engines, clamps, and other asbestos-containing components of these aircraft. After serving in Vietnam, the Plaintiff worked as a pipefitter at many different locations throughout the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts, including schools and hospitals. His work as a pipefitter exposed him to asbestos from boilers, pumps, valves, steam traps, and other equipment that he installed and maintained at these construction sites. The litigation team at Shepard Law was able to obtain a seven-figure settlement for the client and his wife after extensive work getting the case ready for a trial.

Shepard O’Donnell successfully litigated the case of a career engineer who had been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The plaintiff had been exposed to asbestos while working in at a chemical plant in Springfield, Massachusetts. His work exposed him to significant amounts of asbestos from various manufacturing equipment including reactors, pumps, valves and related equipment. Shepard O’Donnell was able to obtain a significant settlement for the Plaintiff and his family.

Shepard O’Donnell successfully litigated the case of a 73-year-old gentleman who was diagnosed with mesothelioma after spending his career as an industrial painter. His exposure to asbestos came from his use of sound deadening material that he applied to the inside of industrial steam turbine covers. The Shepard O’Donnell team was able to recover a significant seven-figure settlement from the companies that manufactured the asbestos-containing sound deadening material as well as the companies for whom the steam turbine covers were manufactured, since those companies specified the use of the asbestos-containing sound deadening material. The defendants in this case produced a significant amount of documentation that the team at Shepard O’Donnell diligently examined in order to make a strong case on our client’s behalf.

Attorney Shepard and his firm successfully litigated two cases of aircraft mechanics who developed mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos while working on a number of aircraft at major United States Air Force bases. The federal court cases involved numerous manufacturers of aircraft and aircraft component parts. They involved complex issues of law, including successor liability and government contractor defenses. Depositions took place in multiple states around the country. The cases settled for a significant seven-figure sum.

Shepard O’Donnell brought a mesothelioma case from client intake all the way to trial in less than a year’s time. The case involved a 70 year-old Vietnam Marine veteran who worked as a pipefitter at a New Hampshire paper mill throughout his post-military career. The Plaintiff testified to working with and around asbestos for many years at the paper mill. He gave testimony about the numerous pumps, valves, boilers, turbines and insulation materials that he worked on at the mill. In addition, the litigation team at Shepard O’Donnell was able to collect documents from many sources to support the Plaintiff’s testimony, and to prove the extensive use of asbestos at the mill. Shepard O’Donnell attorneys also took numerous depositions of corporate and expert witnesses, and had the case ready for trial just eight months after filing suit. The case resolved while it was awaiting a date for jury selection to begin, obtaining a multiple seven-figure settlement for the client and his wife.

Shepard O’Donnell successfully litigated a mesothelioma case on behalf of a high school principal who had worked for several summers as a laborer at a construction company in his youth. His job as a laborer took him into paper mills in Western Massachusetts where he was exposed to asbestos. The lawsuit involved a number of very complicated legal issues including premises liability. The case was ultimately resolved for a significant seven-figure settlement.

Shepard O’Donnell and his firm successfully litigated the case of a woman who died of mesothelioma. Her mesothelioma was caused by exposure to asbestos from laundering the clothing of her husband, who worked at a facility that coated and cut asbestos paper for use in making gaskets. The case involved two separate suits, due to the late discovery of documents that identified additional suppliers of asbestos paper. The case was vigorously defended and involved extensive motion practice and numerous depositions. After all the factual and legal hurdles were cleared, the case settled for a significant seven-figure sum.

Shepard O’Donnell represented the owner of a delivery home heating and oil company who was diagnosed with mesothelioma. He was exposed to asbestos while installing, removing, and servicing heating systems at various residential and commercial locations. His exposure came from the heating system removal process which entailed: cutting the asbestos insulation, smashing boilers and/or furnaces into pieces, and sweeping the remaining asbestos debris from the work area after the job was complete. The attorneys at Shepard O’Donnell vigorously fought against the Defendants to recover a significant six-figure settlement for their client.

Shepard O’Donnell represented a 66 year-old Connecticut resident who, after an early retirement, started his own excavation and junk removal business with his sons. The Plaintiff was exposed to asbestos from removing old boilers from residential basements, breaking the boilers up and hauling them away. Unfortunately, the Plaintiff passed away before he was able to testify but his two sons were able to give detailed testimony about their father’s exposure to asbestos while working at the family business. The case resolved prior to trial for a significant seven-figure sum.

Shepard O’Donnell successfully litigated the case of a 66 year old gentleman who spent the vast majority of his life in high school education, including a tenure as headmaster of a distinguished boarding school in Rhode Island, before being diagnosed with mesothelioma.  His asbestos exposure occurred during high school and college while he assisted as an apprentice insulator for his father’s insulation contracting business.  The team at Shepard O’Donnell was able to recover a significant seven figure settlement from companies that specified the use of asbestos insulation on their products and at their facilities.  This case involved extensive discovery and raised a number of challenging legal issues that Shepard O’Donnell was able to overcome to achieve this settlement.

Shepard O’Donnell successfully litigated the case of a construction foreman who was diagnosed with mesothelioma at the age of 74. His work in the construction industry exposed him to asbestos from the application of joint compound and the installation of ceiling tiles at many different commercial locations throughout New England and New York. The plaintiff also maintained a hobby of racing and working on many different automobiles and his work on the brakes, clutches, and gaskets of the automobiles that he raced during his free time also exposed him to large amounts of asbestos. The team at Shepard O’Donnell was able to resolve this case for a significant settlement prior to the start of trial.

Shepard O’Donnell successfully litigated the case of a 73 year old who gentleman was diagnosed with mesothelioma after spending his career as an industrial painter.  His exposure to asbestos came from his use of sound deadening material that he applied to the inside of industrial steam turbine covers.  The Shepard O’Donnell team was able to recover a significant seven figure settlement from the companies that manufactured the asbestos-containing sound deadening material as well as the companies for whom the steam turbine covers were manufactured, since those companies specified the use of the asbestos-containing sound deadening material.  The defendants in this case produced a significant amount of documentation that the team at Shepard O’Donnell diligently examined in order to make a strong case on our client’s behalf.

Shepard O’Donnell successfully litigated the case of an electrician who was exposed to asbestos from wiring, installing, removing, and upgrading electrical systems at various commercial and residential jobsites in the Greater Boston area. During his career, he was exposed to asbestos from installing and removing light fixtures, fluorescent lights, breakers, switches, and electrical insulating materials. As an electrician, he also installed and removed wiring from boilers. He had to rip off the asbestos-containing external insulation in order to gain access to the wiring inside the boiler. As a result of his asbestos exposure, he suffered from mesothelioma. After a relentless fight, the Shepard O’Donnell team was able to recover a substantial six-figure settlement in this matter.

Shepard O’Donnell successfully litigated the case of a 66-year-old gentleman who spent the vast majority of his life in high school education, including a tenure as headmaster of a distinguished boarding school in Rhode Island before being diagnosed with mesothelioma. His asbestos exposure occurred during high school and college while he assisted as an apprentice insulator for his father’s insulation contracting business. The team at Shepard O’Donnell was able to recover a significant seven-figure settlement from companies that specified the use of asbestos insulation on their products and at their facilities. This case involved extensive discovery and raised a number of challenging legal issues that Shepard O’Donnell was able to overcome to achieve this settlement.

Shepard O’Donnell successfully litigated the case of an electrician who was exposed to asbestos from wiring, installing, removing, and upgrading electrical systems at various commercial and residential jobsites in the Greater Boston area.  During his career, he was exposed to asbestos from installing and removing light fixtures, florescent lights, breakers, switches, and electrical insulating materials.  As an electrician, he also installed and removed wiring from boilers.  He had to rip off the asbestos-containing external insulation in order to gain access to the wiring inside the boiler.  As a result of his asbestos exposure, he suffered from mesothelioma.  After a relentless fight, the Shepard O’Donnell team was able to recover a substantial six-figure settlement in this matter.

In 2019, Shepard Law brought suit against Monsanto, the manufacturer and seller of Roundup weed killer, on behalf of a group of clients that developed Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as a result of their repeated use of Roundup. Shepard Law’s litigation team is mobilizing to make sure its clients get the compensation they deserve for their tragic injuries.

Shepard Law successfully litigated a case of a man who was injured when the propane tank that he had taken to be filled exploded. The client had taken his propone tanks to be filled at the same store for 15 years. On the occasion at issue, an inexperienced clerk over-filled the tank causing it to explode. The client was thrown backward into the side of his SUV, hitting his head and shattering the window glass. The client suffered from a concussion, shrapnel wounds and burns on his lower extremities. The client and his spouse missed time from work while he was recuperating from his injury. The Shepard Law team was able to get the client and his family a significant settlement.

In 2017, Shepard Law successfully settled a FELA action against several locomotive defendants on behalf of a diesel mechanic who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma as a result of his exposure to benzene during the course of his work. This case involved a number of very complicated legal and medical issues.  The defendants vigorously contested liability.  The case was ultimately resolved for a significant six-figure settlement.

In 2018, Shepard Law litigated a personal injury case of a young man who suffered from orbital fractures, severed tendons around his eye, facial scarring and a head injury after being struck by a bottle inside a Boston nightclub.  After conducting numerous depositions and filing several motions advocating for our client, Shepard Law was able to resolve the case for a six-figure settlement.

In 2018, Shepard Law was able to settle a personal injury case wherein the Plaintiff was hit by a motor vehicle while crossing the street in a cross walk.  The Plaintiff sustained multiple bruises, a shoulder injury and a closed-head injury.  In the initial consultation with Shepard Law attorneys, Plaintiff had not yet been diagnosed with a closed-head injury but experienced counsel quickly recognized the symptoms and suggested the Plaintiff seek further medical attention from a neurosurgeon.  Upon examination, a board-certified neurosurgeon diagnosed the Plaintiff with a closed-head injury and started her on a treatment plan to help alleviate her symptoms of pain, difficulty sleeping, headaches, and forgetfulness.  The case was settled for close to the insurance policy limits.

In 2018, Shepard Law was part of a trial team that won a groundbreaking achievement by obtaining a $43.1 million dollar verdict in a case that involved both cigarette smoking and asbestos exposure. Plaintiff Louis Summerlin was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2015. He had been a heavy cigarette smoker, having started smoking menthol cigarettes as a teenager in the 1950s. He had also worked for many years as an automobile brake mechanic, at one point doing 3-4 brake jobs a day, six days a week. He passed away 7 months after his diagnosis in 2015. Before he died, he gave videotaped trial testimony that was shown the jury during trial.

The trial team presented evidence to the jury over the course of five weeks showing Mr. Summerlin’s addiction to menthol cigarettes, and his exposure to asbestos dust from grinding brake linings. Neither the cigarettes nor the asbestos brake linings came with a warning about their health hazards. By the time the warnings came, it was too late, the jury heard. Mr. Summerlin was already addicted to menthol cigarettes, and could not quit despite multiple attempts with different smoking cessation aids. And he had already inhaled billions of fibers of asbestos dust from brake linings.

The jury heard evidence about what the tobacco companies knew about cigarette smoking by the 1950s, and were shown internal company documents that showed that the amount of nicotine was precisely calculated and manipulated to initiate and sustain addiction in smokers. Our team put into evidence documents showing that tobacco companies knew that adding menthol to cigarettes made it more likely for teenagers to start smoking, made it easier to addict smokers, and made it harder for smokers to quit.

The jury also heard evidence that Hampden Automotive had ignored the dangerous nature of asbestos dust and had neglected to test their brake linings to see if they released toxic asbestos fibers. Michael Shepard presented the jury with evidence showing that the hazards of asbestos were well established in the medical and scientific literature by the late 1950s, and that Mr. Summerlin’s work grinding Hampden Automotive’s brake linings exposed him to billions of asbestos fibers each year.

The case was tried in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston, in front of Judge Heidi Brieger. Jury selection began on September 5, 2018, and trial started on September 7. The evidence took over a month to put on. After four days of deliberations, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the Summerlin family in the amount of $43.1 million dollars. It was the largest jury verdict in all of New England in 2018, and one of the top verdicts in the entire United States.

New England Top Verdicts and Settlements 2018

Shepard Law successfully litigated the case of a railroad worker who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at the age of 61.  During his time at the railroad he was exposed to benzene, a carcinogen known to cause certain types of cancer.  The link between the client’s cancer, multiple myeloma, and benzene exposure was hotly contested by the defendants in the case.  The Shepard Law legal team retained the foremost experts in the country on the issue, worked tenaciously and was able to obtain a significant six-figure settlement for the client.