A roundup of recent asbestos-related news, asbestos lawsuits and the latest asbestos hot spots—places where asbestos has been found—and that you should be aware of.
Jefferson County, TX: The widow and daughter of a man who died from asbestos mesothelioma are suing a total of 34 companies alleging they were responsible for the development of his disease, because the failed to adequately test their products, and failed to issue warnings about the dangers of asbestos exposure.
The defending companies named in the suit are: A.W. Chesterton, American Optical Corporation, Ametek, Inc., Bayer Cropscience, Bechtel Corporation, CBS Corporation, Certainteed Corporation, Coltec Industries, Crane Company, Crown, Cork and Seal Company, D&F Distributing, Dana Companies, Fluor Enterprises, Fluor Maintenance Services, Foster Wheeler Constructors, and Foster Wheeler Corporation.
Also Garlock Sealing Technologies, General Electric Corporation, General Refractories Company, Goulds Pumps, Henry Vogt Machine Company, Honeywell International, Industrial Holdings, Ingersoll-Rand Company, John Crane, 3M, Owens Illinois, Sepco Corporation, Treco Construction Services, Union Carbide Corporation and Uniroyal. (setexasrecord.com)
Baltimore, MD: A woman who was diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer in 2008, as a result of exposure to asbestos fibers from her grandfather’s work clothes as a child, has been awarded a $20 million settlement. Jocelyn Farrar sued Georgia Pacific, who supplied asbestos-containing insulation to the Forrestal Building in Washington state in 1968, when her grandfather worked on the building. (Maryland Daily Record)
Bloomington, IL: A jury has awarded three widows a $5.5 million settlement ending a lawsuit they filed alleging their husbands were exposed to asbestos when they worked at a factory in Bloomington. The three men worked at Union Asbestos & Rubber Co., later called UNARCO Industries Inc., between the 1950s and 1960s. They died of the asbestos-related disease mesothelioma. (pantagraph.com)
Libby, MT: A five year study has been launched to investigate the long-term health effects of asbestos exposure in people living near to asbestos-tainted vermiculite ore in the infamous town of Libby. The research team includes staff from Mount Sinai, the University of Montana, Idaho State University and Libby’s Center for Asbestos Related Disease. (Billings Gazette)
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer related to asbestos exposure, asbestosis or pleural disease, a Veteran Service Officer may be able to assist you. Each state has a network of Veteran Service Officers dedicated to assisting veterans and/or their dependents with filing claims relating to a diagnosis of mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses.
Is asbestos in your home? Asbestos was widely in building construction in the last century. It’s still used in roofing tiles, caulking, and insulating products. If you’re buying a home or thinking or remodelling, it is recommended that you find out what materials were used in the construction of the house, and an asbestos inspection is one way to do that.
My husband was in the Navy aboard ship as a boilerman. He finally got his 100% disability from the veterans the month before he died. His ship was in drydock between his 2 tours of duty in Vietnam. This was for the purpose of having the pipes wrapped in Asbestos. There were specific companies that installed the asbestos and these are the people that have been sued for neglience. I want to know what I can do about this?
Hi Jan, I am sorry to hear of your husband’s passing–and our sincere appreciation and thanks to him for serving our country through two tours during Vietnam. The best course of action would be to have your situation reviewed by a lawyer who specializes in asbestos-related negligence cases and lawsuits. You can do that by filling out this form–it is free of cost and you’re under no obligation for anything–it just allows you to have a qualified lawyer review your case details. If you’d prefer, you can also call this toll-free number, 1-866-388-5589, to speak with someone “live” who can take down your information for the lawyer. Again, my sincere condolences to you and your family–and if you have any other questions, let us know. -Abi