Asbestos News Roundup: 11.26.10

November 26th, 2010. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. 

Asbestos Lawsuits

Boston, MA: Arthur and Joan Tucker have filed an asbestos lawsuit naming 37 defendant companies. The suit alleges that the companies caused Arthur Tucker to develop lung cancer after his exposure to asbestos-containing products throughout his career. 

The suit further claims that the defendants should have known of the harmful effects of asbestos, but failed to exercise reasonable care and caution for Arthur Tucker’s safety. As a result of his exposure to asbestos containing products and his subsequent diagnosis of lung cancer, Arthur Tucker became disabled and disfigured, incurred medical costs and suffered great physical pain and mental anguish, the suit states. Moreover, the Tuckers claim, because Mr. Tucker became prevented from pursuing his normal course of employment he lost large sums of money that would have accrued to him, and his wife has been deprived of her husband’s companionship, society and services because of the disease. (Stclairrecord) 

Asbestos Settlements

Brazoria County, TX: A $4.1 million settlement has been awarded to the family of a man who allegedly died of asbestos mesothelioma resulting from asbestos exposure at work. Diagnosed with the fatal disease in 2008, Jerry Johnston died eight months later at the age of 63.

For eight years in the 1970s he worked at Dow Chemical where he was exposed to asbestos gaskets and packing products. His family sued 20 entities. All of them settled or were dismissed except for John Crane Inc., which went to trial. The jury attributed 15 percent of the liability to John Crane, which reduced the $27.5 million award. (Verdict Search).

Red Bank, NJ: A man has been awarded $3.72 million in his asbestos exposure lawsuit. The man was diagnosed with mesothelioma after years of working with asbestos. Howard Bird, a 55 year old electrician, came into contact with asbestos on various job sites. Bird was diagnosed with mesothelioma, which led to him filing a lawsuit against the manufacturers of the asbestos-containing products he came into contact with. (The Daily Journal) 

Asbestos Hot Spots

Glacier National Park, AK: The headquarters building of Glacier National Park, located in the park, closed last week because of the potential for asbestos contamination within the building. The building is undergoing upgrades, with contractors installing a new heating and ventilation system. Some of the original building materials the contractors had to work through to install the new system may contain asbestos.

“We discovered we hadn’t tested for (asbestos),” Park spokesman Bill Hayden told the Hungry Horse News.

Erring on the side of safety, Park officials decided that rather than keep people in the building while tests are being done, the structure would be closed temporarily while tests are being done.

Employees left the building last Thursday and they’re being housed in temporary offices in Glacier’s headquarters area. The headquarters closure has little impact on visitors. Park staffers will man the Apgar visitor center seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with the exception of the Thanksgiving Day holiday, when it will be closed. (Hungry Horse News)

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma, asbestos_mesothelioma

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