Oscar’s Story

Oscar was still working when he was diagnosed. The family was devastated, but rallied to support him. His daughter, Isabel, was just 19 years old and a college freshman. After class, she would go to her parents and take Oscar to his chemotherapy treatments.

In early 2014, Oscar asked Isabel what she wanted for her birthday. She told him she wanted him to marry her mom, Lupe. While the couple was dedicated to each other for over 25 years, going through the pomp and ceremony of marriage had never been a high priority.

But now with Oscar’s diagnosis, it was important. Isabel planned for Oscar to purpose during her birthday dinner. It was tradition for the family to go out for dinner on birthdays. Every year, after Isabel would blow out her candles, her mom always asked, “What did you wish for?”

That year, Isabel told her, “I wished that dad would propose to you.” Lupe turned around, and there was Oscar with the ring.

The next month, they were married. Oscar passed away a few months later a happily married man. Following his death, the family decided to file a mesothelioma claim and hold those responsible accountable.

Simmons Hanly Conroy Partner Randy Cohn and his team of mesothelioma lawyers got to work finding past co-workers to speak about Oscar’s exposure.

“I’ve never seen a group of co-workers more loyal to a man and family than Oscar’s co-workers,” Randy said. “They took time off work and their own lives to give depositions on Oscar’s behalf.”

The case eventually resolved in financial compensation. During the mediation hearing, the three family members remembered Oscar.

“This won’t change our lives,” Oscar’s son, Oscar, Jr. told Randy. “These companies could pay a billion dollars and I’m still going to wake up tomorrow, grab my shovel and go to work. And my mom is still going to work two jobs and my sister is going to go to school. The bottom line is there is no money that could make up for the loss of my dad.”

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