Conoco Phillips Appeals Mississippi Jury Award

Conoco Phillips Corp. has appealed a $15.2 million jury award to an oil and well drilling worker who claimed have gotten lung disease from exposure to asbestos.

The Mississippi Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case on Jan. 30.

In 2010, a Jones County jury ruled for Troy Lofton in his personal injury lawsuit against CP Chem, a division of Conoco Phillips Corp.

Lofton alleged he was diagnosed in 2004 was asbestosis.

Lofton claimed CP Chem knowingly shipped a product containing asbestos for 20 years that was used in the oil and gas well drilling industry.

Lofton claimed that as a result of that exposure he has had to remain on oxygen 24 hours a day.

The company denied the claims.