Franklin Judgment Lowered to $3.8 Million

June 4, 2007  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Upholstery on June 2007 A Calhoun County circuit court judge has reduced the damages in the $9.425 million judgment against Franklin Corp. to $3.8 million for four former employees of the Mississippi upholstery producer, according to The Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Miss.

The state’s tort reform laws puts caps on punitive damages for the subjective pain and suffering clause of lawsuits.

Last week, the jury had awarded the four former employees $1.925 million in compensatory damages and $7.5 million in punitive damages. The judge lowered the punitive damages to $1.8 million.

Franklin plans to appeal the ruling.

Hassel Franklin, founder and chief executive officer of the company, told the newspaper the company denies the allegations and believes the case was decided incorrectly.

The lawsuit focused on the company’s use of an adhesive containing the hazardous chemical propyl bromide from 1999 to 2004. The workers said they were exposed to the chemical in enclosed booths with no ventilation, respiratory, eye or skin protection during their 10 to 12 hour days.