DuPont in the dock

The Dallas law firm of

recently announced a jury verdict of $15.5 million handed down by a Laurel, Mississippi jury on behalf of a man who contracted cancer after being exposed to toxic chemicals released from a chemical plant operated by

. This was the first trial in a series of lawsuits filed on behalf of more than 2,000 local residents who were injured by emissions from the same plant.

Baron & Budd shareholder Allen M. Stewart and attorney Alben N. Hopkins represented Glen Strong and his wife, Connie, in the trial before Circuit Judge Billy Landrum of the 2nd Judicial District Court in Jones County.

The jury's $15.5 million award included $14 million in actual damages awarded to Mr Strong, and $1.5 million awarded to his wife for the emotional distress caused by her husband's injury. The jury was scheduled to consider punitive damages against DuPont on Monday, but arguments were rescheduled for Thursday in response to Hurricane Katrina.