US$9mn joint compound verdict

The Maryland appeals court has upheld a US$9mn verdict against Georgia-Pacific arising from asbestos-related illness in a man who used G-P manufactured asbestos-containing joint compound in 1973 when renovating his home. While this claim is insurance-covered, G-P, facing more than 60,000 similar claims, mostly from construction workers exposed while at work, recently set aside US$221mn towards settlements without insurance cover.