Jury Awards $20.9 Million to Washington Worker Diagnosed with Mesothelioma after Asbestos Exposure at “Tacoma Aroma” Mill
A King County jury has awarded $20.9 million to Scot McLeod, a former abatement worker who developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos at industrial worksites across the Pacific Northwest beginning in 1989. Mr. McLeod is represented by attorneys Kaitlin Cherf, Colin Mieling and Craig Sims of Schroeter Goldmark & Bender (SGB).
SGB’s Ben Gauen examines the complexities of litigating sexual misconduct in the patient-provider relationship in the May edition of Washington State Association for Justice Trial News.
New lawsuit details decades of unchecked sexual abuse by OYA physician “Dr. Cold Fingers” and systemic failures to protect youth in custody.
A new lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon by six men accuses the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) of enabling and covering up the sexual abuse of youth in its custody for more than four decades. The filing adds to a growing number of men who have come forward this year with similar allegations of abuse and institutional negligence.
These latest lawsuits join three others already filed in 2024 against OYA staff for previous and ongoing abuse.
Seattle Medium reported on the mayor’s declaration of May 7th as Child Sex Trafficking Prevention Day and StolenYouth’s involvement, as well as several insights into the sex trafficking crisis from SGB attorney and Stolen Youth board member, Ben Gauen.
Lindsay Halm and Ben Gauen contributed an article to WSAJ’s April edition of Trial News that explores the nuances navigating parallel civil and criminal proceedings.