BLOOMINGTON - A McLean County jury awarded $2.6 million Wednesday to family members of a woman who died as a result of an asbestos-related ailment.

Jean Holmes died in April 2006 of mesothelioma. Roger and John Holmes, sons of the 93-year-old women, were represented in the three-week trial by Bloomington lawyers James Wylder and Lisa Corwin with Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP.

According to court records, Jean Holmes was exposed to asbestos when she laundered clothing belonging to her husband, Donald Holmes, who worked at Bloomington's Union Asbestos and Rubber Company, later known as UNARCO Industries, in 1962 and 1963.

Lawyers for the Holmes' family argued that she was never warned of the dangers of asbestos.

The jury deliberated about 2 1/2 hours.

Wylder and Corwin argued that defendants Pneumo Abex LLC and Honeywell International Inc., through their corporate predecessors, Abex and Bendix, conspired with other companies, including UNARCO, Johns-Manville, Raybestos-Manhattan, Owens-Illinois, Owens Corning and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, to suppress information about the hazards of asbestos.

Employees and customers were not cautioned about the dangers of the substance, the lawyers said.