A New York jury awarded $47 million Wednesday to a 54-year-old boilermaker who suffers from a severe form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Plaintiff Robert Crouteau worked as a contractor for two New York utility companies, Consolidated Edison Inc. and KeySpan Corp. unit Long Island Lighting Co. (LILCO), until he was diagnosed with mesothelioma in May 2001. In finding Con Edison and LILCO negligent, the jury concluded that the companies failed to adequately warn employees about the health dangers of asbestos exposure. A spokesperson for Con Edison said the company will appeal the "grossly excessive" decision.

Asbestos use peaked in popularity around World War II, although it was first used in the United States in the late 1800s. During the 1960s and 1970s, health officials linked the inhalation of asbestos fibers to cancer and other disorders.