Baron & Budd, P.C. Wins Appeal of $20 Million California Asbestos Cancer Verdict

Former Entertainer Wins Appeal against Joint Compound Manufacturer
SAN FRANCISCO--(Business Wire)--
Baron & Budd, P.C. announced an appellate victory relating to a $20 million
dollar asbestos cancer verdict.The appeal upholds the jury`s verdict and court`s
judgment in this asbestos cancer lawsuit brought on behalf of mesothelioma
patient Joan Mahoney and husband Daniel Mahoney. Baron & Budd attorneys John
Langdoc and Denyse Clancy, who represented the Mahoneys, proved that Mrs.
Mahoney`s mesothelioma was linked to her exposure to an asbestos-containing
joint compound manufactured by Georgia Pacific and that the company knew
beforehand that asbestos exposure caused disease.

Mrs. Mahoney, a San Francisco native, spent much of her career in show business.
Her singing career spanned 30 years and took her around the world seven times on
United Service Organizations (USO) tours. But, it was Mrs. Mahoney`s work in the
family home-remodeling business that exposed her to an asbestos-containing joint
compound produced by Georgia Pacific. Together, Mrs. Mahoney and her husband
built and remodeled numerous houses in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.

In August 2006, Mrs. Mahoney was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a cancer affecting
the lining of the lung caused by asbestos exposure. Several months before, her
husband suffered a severe stroke that left him paralyzed and unable to speak.
Weakened by cancer and chemotherapy, Mrs. Mahoney was unable to take care of her
husband, who required home nursing care.

The jury awarded Mrs. Mahoney and her husband $20,050,000 and apportioned 30% of
the fault to Georgia Pacific, and the remaining liability to Bondex, Kaiser
Gypsum and Durabond joint compound, and CertainTeed construction products. After
reducing the award to reflect Georgia Pacific`s percentage of fault, settlements
made by other defendants prior to trial, and a stipulated amount of medical
damages, the court entered a judgment of $6,289,544. The appellate court upheld
the full verdict, finding it was "amply supported" by the evidence at trial.

"Georgia Pacific did not protect Mrs. Mahoney or any others who used its joint
compound, and I am pleased that the appellate court agreed with the judge and
jury that Georgia Pacific must be held accountable," said Langdoc.

About Baron & Budd, P.C.

Dallas-based Baron & Budd, P.C., with offices in Baton Rouge, Austin and Beverly
Hills, is a nationally recognized firm with more than three decades of
experience representing people and communities harmed by corporate negligence.
It has been recognized by the National Law Journal`s "Plaintiffs` Hot List" in
2002-2006 and 2008 (Incisive Media). The firm resolved one of the first asbestos
cases in the United States in the 1970s and continues to serve people diagnosed
with mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer, as well as communities and
consumers dealing with the costs of fraud and corporate misconduct.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6093105&lang=en

Baron & Budd
Susan Knape, 214-629-0596

Copyright Business Wire 2009