David Moore proudly served in the United States Navy. A devoted husband and father, he was deeply loved by his family and friends. Tragically, during his service aboard U.S. naval ships decades earlier, Mr. Moore was exposed to asbestos insulation. By 1995, he had developed malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs. The disease typically begins by encapsulating one lung lobe and often spreads to the other. As it progresses, the pleural lining thickens dramatically, growing to a size comparable to a watermelon rind and encasing the lung.
The rapid progression of mesothelioma causes excruciating chest pain and leads to the accumulation of bloody effusions in the pleurae. These effusions, combined with the thickened lung lining, severely diminish lung capacity, make breathing agonizing, and create immense difficulty in drawing even a single breath. By the time Mr. Moore’s case went to trial, he was in the advanced stages of this devastating disease.
At that time, advancements in medical science had not yet achieved the improvements in longevity and quality of life seen today. Mr. Moore’s life expectancy was approximately six months. Thankfully, he was able to vividly recall the specific brands of asbestos products he and others worked with during his Navy service. His detailed recollections enabled us to identify the manufacturers responsible for his exposure.
This crucial evidence allowed us to secure a verdict not only for compensatory damages but also a substantial award for punitive damages. These punitive damages were designed to hold the companies accountable for their reckless disregard for human life—knowingly exposing individuals to asbestos and causing immense suffering decades later.
To this day, the verdict Frederick Schenk achieved on behalf of Mr. Moore remains the largest asbestos verdict in San Diego County.