Asbestos News Roundup: 9.12.13 – Second Hand Asbestos Risk

September 12th, 2013. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. An ongoing list of reported asbestos hot spots in the US from the Asbestos News Roundup archive appears on our asbestos map.

Second Hand Asbestos Exposure and Risk for Asbestos Disease

The recent case of Nita Constant, below, who died from asbestos mesothelioma, highlights how asbestos dust represents a danger not just to those who worked in heavy industry, but also to their family members who were in daily contact with them. It also highlights the risks of environmental and neighborhood exposure. Nita Constant lived on the West Bank in New Orleans, an industrial area where asbestos would have been in use.

The asbestos lawsuit, filed on behalf of the estate of the late Nita Constant, by her family, alleges she suffered secondary asbestos exposure as a result of her husband’s exposure.

Recently, we also reported on the case of a 78-year old women succumbed to asbestos mesothelioma which she developed as a result of having breathed in second-hand asbestos fibers as she shook out the work clothes of her husband and son, who worked at a power station.

There are many cases of family members developing asbestos disease as a result of secondary asbestos exposure—secondary exposure caused, for example, by wives beating their husband’s dusty overalls as they hung on a washing line, or shaking them off in a doorway before putting them in a washing machine. Their husbands worked in industries such as mining, ship-building, construction, plumbing and electrical.

Children and even grandchildren have also been put at risk, running up to a returning parent to give them a hug as they return from work, or sitting on their knee as they wear their dusty work clothes. The risk of loved ones being accidentally exposed is unfortunate and just adds to the tragic legacy of asbestos. But as this latest case shows, it is something that family members need to be made aware of.

Asbestos Lawsuits

New Orleans, LA: Charles Carrone, a former electrician based in Louisiana and who was recently diagnosed with asbestos-related lung cancer, is suing several companies he claims are responsible for his diagnosis.

In his complaint, Carrone alleges he was exposed to asbestos during the course his career as an electrician, from 1950 to 1979. He alleges was exposed to asbestos through the course of handling products on United Fruit Company vessels at the New Orleans Riverfront, while working at Evans Cooperage and while providing maintenance to boilers at Coca-Cola.

The defendants are accused of using products that are unreasonably dangerous, failing to sufficiently warn of the hazards these products would present, failing to properly design these products when the nature of the product did not require use of asbestos mineral and defects in the composition and construction of products.

Carrone is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for medical costs, lost earnings, mental suffering, anguish, pain and suffering and disability.

Named defendants include Asbestos Corporation Ltd., Eagle Inc., Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation, McCarty Corporation, Maryland Casualty Company, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Owens Illinois Inc., Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Ownes Ilinois Inc., Reilly-Benton Company, Taylor Seidenbach Inc.,  General Electric and Boland Machine & Manufacturing Company. (louisianarecord.com)

New Orleans, LA: David Punch, a retired pipefitter from New Orleans, was recently diagnosed with asbestos-related lung cancer and is consequently suing numerous companies he claims are responsible for exposing him to the deadly carcinogen.

In his asbestos lawsuit, Punch claims that from 1959-1973 he worked as an apprentice pipefitter at numerous sites in Louisiana for a variety of employers. During the course of those engagements, he alleges he was exposed to asbestos and asbestos-containing products. Further, he claims he contracted malignant mesothelioma, an incurable and terminal cancer as a direct result.

Punch alleges the defendants used and distributed products that are unreasonably dangerous, and that there was a lack of warning or of sufficient warning of the hazards of the products, negligence and failing to provide a safe working environment.

Punch is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for all his past present and future medical cost, mental suffering, physical pain and suffering, loss of quality of life and disability.

Named defendants include: Asbestos Corporation Ltd., Taylor-Seidenbach Inc., Eagle Inc., Rielly Benton Company, McCarty Corporation, Anco Insulations Inc., Union Carbide Corporation, The Cajun Company, Uniroyal Inc., Shell Oil Company, Occidental Chemical Corporations, E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, Pharmacia Corporation, Whitney Holding Corporation, Chevron U.S.A Inc., Chevron Chemical Company LLC, Tin Inc., Lou Con, Inc., RMJ Properties LLC, Entergy Lousiana LLC, Gulf Engineering Company LLC, Maryland Casualty Company and Onebeacon Insurance Company. (louisianarecord.com)

New Orleans, LA: Family members of the recently deceased Nita Constant have filed an asbestos lawsuit alleging the defendant companies have ties to asbestos handling which resulted in Nita Constant’s developing asbestos related lung cancer and subsequently dying.

Anatole, Gerard, Timothy and Richard Constant filed suit against Asbestos Corporation Limited, Taylor-Seidenbach Inc., Eagle Inc., Rielly Benton Company, McCarty Corporation, Union Carbide Corporation, Burmaster Land and Development Co., Zurich American Insurance Company, CSR Limited and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

The plaintiffs allege in their asbestos complaint that Nita Constant was exposed to injurious levels of asbestos through asbestos fibers brought home by Anatole Constant as result of his work at Celotex Corporation and from environmental and neighborhood exposure to asbestos while residing on the West Bank.

The lawsuit claims that the defendants, which include miners, manufactures, sellers, suppliers and contractors of asbestos products, distribute and use of products that are unreasonably dangerous. The plaintiffs further allege negligence when concerning the safety of individuals, and wrongful death on the part of the defendants.

An unspecified amount in damages is sought for loss chance of survival, mental and emotional anguish, all present and future suffering and medical expenses..(louisianarecord.com)

 

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Exposure, asbestos law, asbestos lawsuit, Asbestos Mesothelioma

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