The Nation - News from Jan. 26, 1986

A South Carolina jury, in a verdict that may be the first of its kind in the nation, ordered a Massachusetts company to pay $8.4 million in damages to the city of Greenville, S.C., for selling an asbestos-based fireproofing material used in Greenville City Hall. The U.S. District Court jury in Greenville made the finding against W. R. Grace & Co., which said it would appeal. The city charged negligence in the sale of a product made with asbestos, which can cause cancer. It was believed to be the first time a plaintiff citing cancer risks was awarded property damages from an asbestos-product manufacturer.