Update on $15.2 Million Drilling Mud Verdict
I have a little more information on the $15.2 million drilling mud verdict this week in Jones County. The verdict was all compensatory damages. The jury considered punitive damages, but did not return a verdict.
Reports are that it was an asbestos drilling mud case. The plaintiff has severe asbestosis according to his treating physician Dr. Steve Stogner, who reportedly was a great witness. The defendant was Conoco Phillips, now owned by Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., LLC. Union Carbide settled before trial and Oilfield Service & Supply Co. was dismissed on summary judgment.
Plaintiff's attorneys were Bob Hammond, Phillip Carby and the Franklin Cardwll & Jones firm from Texas.
Defense counsel was Alex Coscullela from Houston, Bernard Booth and Jeff Trotter, all with Adams and Reese.
This was the third drilling mud case tried in Mississippi. The first resulted in a $3.2 million verdict that Judge Robert Evans threw out on a JNOV motion. The second was a defense verdict.
