Fibreboard Wins $6.1-Million Lawsuit Against Chubb Unit

In one of California’s longest and costliest civil trials, a state jury has decided that an affiliate of Chubb Co. must pay Fibreboard Corp. $6.1 million to cover asbestos-related legal costs.

Concord, Calif.-based Fibreboard, a lumber and insulation company, said Monday that a San Francisco Superior Court made the award in the lawsuit late Sunday against Pacific Indemnity Co.

Fibreboard, which manufactured asbestos-containing insulation products until 1972, said it has been hit with over 75,000 personal injury claims related to asbestos. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer and other serious illnesses.

Fibreboard has been involved in a long-running battle with the insurance companies that had issued coverage to it over the years. Fibreboard said most of the insurers have previously settled the company’s claims.