A former mechanic for a forklift rental company, who was disabled in 2000 after being exposed to a toxic pesticide while repairing a forklift, has been awarded USD46.7 million by a US Superior Court jury.

Home News Tribune reported the jury determined Troy Chemical Corp, of Newark, NJ, the company that sent the forklift to Mid-Hudson Forklift Rental Corp, Edison, NJ, for repairs, was responsible for the disabling illnesses Karl Webb, 53, suffered after cleaning and repairing the forklift on Feb 18, 2000.

Mitchell J Makowicz, Webb's attorney, said Webb suffered nerve damage and heart and gastrointestinal complications after exposure to pesticide and other chemicals found on the forklift and had been unable to work since.

After a four-day trial and 90 minutes of deliberations, the jury decided Webb, who has a wife, and five children aged eight to 20, should be awarded USD45 million for pain and suffering, USD260,000 for past wages lost, USD1.36 million for future wages lost and more than USD20,000 for medical expenses.

The jury award is believed to be one of the largest ever in Middlesex County.

John Sawicki, Troy Chemical Corp's attorney, said "the verdict was clearly against the weight of evidence presented" and a motion for a new trial would be filed.