DALLAS -- Twice in less than a week, a jury here awarded longtime employees of Tyler Pipe Industries Inc. a multimillion-dollar award for occupational injuries from exposure to asbestos at Tyler's iron foundry in Swan, Texas. (Blackburn Jury Instructions. Document #01-000901-102. Dews Jury Instructions. Document #01-000901-103.)

On Aug. 19, after 20 days of trial, the Smith County District Court jury awarded $9 million to eight Tyler Pipe employees (Dews). Six days later, on Aug. 25, another Smith County jury returned a $17 million verdict to seven Tyler employees (Blackburn). The verdicts came against Tyler Pipe, which originated in 1936 as the Tyler Iron and Foundry Co. The company later sold the business to Swan Transportation Co.

The trials were held simultaneously. Both juries awarded the employees compensation for pain and mental anguish, loss of earning capacity physical impairment and medical care.

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