Possible Sanctions For Two In CSX Transportation Asbestos Case

In Wheeling, West Virginia, a judge in an asbestos case may levy sanctions against two men who may have conspired to fabricate evidence. U.S. Magistrate Judge James Seibert has threatened Pittsburgh lawyer Robert Pierce and Bridgeport radiologist Ray Harron with sanctions and/or fines after the two men refused to answer questions related to the CSX Transportation asbestos case.

CSX’s suit in federal court seeks to recover the cost of defending and settling asbestos-related claims. CSX alleges that Pierce and Harron conspired to fabricate evidence against CSX. Pierce and Harron were both caught off guard by the mention of sanctions by the judge, as CSX had not sought sanctions.

Participants in the trial have become increasingly frustrated at the amount of media coverage the trial has received. A spokesman for Pierce’s law firm said early last month before the judge “It seems like everything that happens in this litigation ends up in the newspaper somehow.” The extensive media coverage seems justified to many, however, as asbestos is a toxic substance. Asbestos was once used throughout America in brake pads, cement, fireproofing, tiles, and insulation. It is now known to cause lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Harron made headlines earlier this year due to his alleged fabrication of evidence for asbestos cases. Both Harron and his son faced charges in Mississippi for falsifying medical records for asbestos cases. Harron was accused of providing his medical expertise to personal injury attorneys, many of whom represented clients with little, if any, injuries. In 1995, Harron ceased clinical practice as a radiologist completely, and focused instead on performing x-ray evaluations for asbestos, silica and black lung disease litigation. All told, Harron was involved in reviewing chest x-rays for about 600,000 legal cases.

Sources:

http://www.wvrecord.com/news/219258-peirce-harron-taken-aback-by-sanctions-idea

http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/219257-harron-others-named-in-miss.-suit-over-asbestos-scheme