Kleen v. Flowserve US, Inc. Plaintiff’s decedent died from mesothelioma, allegedly as a result of being exposed to asbestos in and around valves made by the defendant while decedent served aboard a U.S. warship in the early 1950s. Defendant decided to make this a test case and was the only remaining defendant at the time of trial. After a 4 1/2 week trial, after which the jury deliberated for a day and a half, the jury returned a complete defense verdict on all three causes of action.