Asbestos News Roundup: 6.10.10

June 10th, 2010. By AbiK

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

Asbestos Lawsuits

Tyler, TX: Claudia Headley’s husband and sons have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Shell Energy North America LP, Royal Dutch Shell PLC, Exxon Mobil Corp., and Alon USA. Mrs. Headley was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and subsequently died from the disease. She passed away on May 30, 2008.

The lawsuit claims that Mrs. Headley was exposed to asbestos fibers when she would wash her husband’s, father’s, and son’s clothing; all three men worked in refineries where they were exposed to asbestos.

The companies named as defendants are alleged to have breached their duties to provide a safe place to work, to warn of the hazards of employment, to protect independent contractors from work-related hazards, and in taking precautions to protect the safety of others when an employee performs work that is inherently dangerous and to avoid a foreseeable risk of injury to others. The lawsuit also states that as a result of the male Headley’s working in this environment, the defendants would have known that Mrs. Headley’s exposure to asbestos dust and particles was unavoidable.

In the suit the plaintiffs are seeking wrongful death damages for pecuniary loss, termination of the husband-wife relationship, mental anguish, loss of household services, termination of the parent-child relationship, necessary medical, funeral and burial expenses, exemplary damages, interest and court costs. (setexasrecord.com)

Asbestos Hot Spot

Carbondale, IL: A chemical fire that caused damage at Southern Illinois University’s Neckers Lab last week will now cost more than expected to clean up. Initial estimates for the clean-up were at $250,000, however, since the discovery of asbestos—used in the construction of the lab—the estimate is now at over $1 million.

According to University spokesman, Rod Sievers, once workers started to clean up the site, they found asbestos had been used to wrap some of the pipes—and that will need to be removed.

Adding to the cost of the clean-up is the lack of insurance—according to Sievers, “Some of the contents were insured, some of the contents were not.”

The fire broke out when a student who was cleaning the lab with hydrocarbons got too close to a heat source. The fire has been ruled an accident, and the student will not be held responsible. (wsiltv.com)

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma

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