SLC August 2006 - A 44-year-old man exposed to Sarin gas settled his case for $525,000. The man was working for a contractor at the Tooele Army Depot when a leak caused him to be exposed to Sarin gas. Sarin gas is highly poisonous. The man showed some immediate effects of exposure to the gas, but then appeared to be outwardly okay. Soon after, began to act strangely and started having problems with his memory and concentration. His initial treating doctors were not able to diagnose his problem. But his family insisted he was markedly different and encouraged him to seek legal help.
The attorneys at Eisenberg Gilchrist & Morton recognized his symptoms from other exposure cases that have been handled by the firm. The firm's lawyers were able to recommend new doctors and industrial hygienists who could test for the obscure signs of chemical poisoning. These tests came back positive and a lawsuit was filed against the U.S. Army and 15 contractors who had built and maintained the system.
The challenge to the firm was to sort out who had done what at the Army base, and more importantly, to convince the Defendants that even though the man appeared normal, he was indeed suffering from significant psychological and personality problems. This was accomplished by video tape interviews of co-workers, friends and neighbors who all agreed that something had changed this man.
"These tapes were the key in settling the case," said Steve Russell, who was lead counsel for the firm.
