After a three week trial, a Baltimore jury returned a $15 million verdict in favor of a 73 year old man who developed mesothelioma from on-the-job exposure to asbestos-containing rope manufactured by defendant, John Crane, Inc, the Baltimore Sun reported. The plaintiff, George J. Linkus worked at Key Highway Shipyard from 1952-1959; beginning in 1954 he worked on lining valves in the machine shop using rope made by Crane.