A Smith County jury has awarded a 48-year-old Brookhaven man the single largest plaintiff's asbestos verdict in United States history. In a case against Chevron Phillips Chemical (CP Chem) and Union Carbide Corporation, Thomas “Tony” Brown Jr., was awarded $322 million dollars for future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. Brown, who worked in the oil fields of Mississippi from 1979 to the mid 80’s, was diagnosed with asbestosis and is currently on oxygen 24-hours a day. Asbestosis is a debilitating lung disease caused by asbestos exposure and induces lung scarring and shortness of breath, which progresses over time.