Missouri Man Awarded $20 Million in Ford Asbestos Suit

A south St. Louis County man who sued Ford Motor Co. over his exposure to asbestos has been awarded $20 million.

In his lawsuit, William Trokey, 76, alleged that his exposure to asbestos while working on Ford brakes as a gas station mechanic in the 1960s led to him being diagnosed with mesothelioma, a form of cancer.

After a two-week trial, a St. Louis jury last week ordered Ford to pay $10 million to Trokey and $10 million in punitive damages to his wife, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

Under Missouri law, $5 million of the punitive damages goes to the state Tort Victims’ Compensation Fund.

A Ford spokesperson said “Our sympathy goes out to the Trokey family and while we respect the jury’s decision, we plan to appeal.”