Asbestos News Roundup: 8.15.13 – 6 States with Highest Rate of Mesothelioma

August 15th, 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

6 States with Highest Rate of Mesothelioma Include States with Major Shipyards

US Navy Veterans have some of the highest incidence of mesothelioma, or asbestos related lung cancers of all Americans. This is because during the 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s, and 1980’s asbestos was used on most parts of all US Navy ships, especially in engine rooms, ammunition magazines, repair rooms, fuel storage areas, and or electronics areas.

Currently, there are over 20 million US Navy veterans, many of whom will have worked at Navy shipyards across the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the six states that see the highest rate of individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma include Maine, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Washington. Both Washington, and Maine have major shipyards. Other states with major shipyards include California, Virginia, Louisiana, Alabama, Maryland, and Texas.

Sadly, US Navy veterans aren’t the only group of people at high risk for asbestos disease stemming from workplace exposure. Aside from shipyards, power plants, manufacturing factories, chemical plants, oil refineries, steel mills, mines, smelters, aerospace manufacturing facilities, demolition construction work sites, railroads repair yards, automotive manufacturing facilities, or auto brake repair shops, also posed or pose significant risks for asbestos exposure, particularly for people working in these areas during the 1950s through to the end of the 1980s.

Asbestos Lawsuits

Jefferson County, TX: Three people have filed an asbestos lawsuit naming four defendant companies as responsible for the diagnosis of asbestos related disease in one of the plaintiffs.

The defendants named in the complaint are Atlantic Richfield Co., Beazer East Inc., Certainteed Corp. and Guard-Line Inc. Audrey J. Hawkins, Terri Banken and Gina Daigle claim Floyd Hawkins was diagnosed with lung cancer as a result of ongoing asbestos exposure through the course of his work, specifically through large amounts of asbestos in products manufactured, sold, designed, supplied, distributed, mined, milled, relabeled, resold, processed, applied or installed by the defendants.

Floyd Hawkins’s disease resulted from inhaling, ingesting or otherwise absorbing asbestos fibers while at work, the plaintiffs claim in their suit. They further allege that Mr. Hawkins was not at any time during his work, aware or made aware of the hazards of asbestos exposure.

According to the complaint, the defendants failed to adequately warn Floyd Hawkins of the serious health hazards related to asbestos exposure and failed to provide him with what would be considered adequate and safe working apparel.

Further, the defendants failed to provide Mr. Hawkins with a safe workplace and allowed dangerous conditions to exist, the complaint states. The defendants also allegedly were negligent in that they failed to test their products before they were released into the stream of commerce; failed to place warning labels on the asbestos products; failed to warn Floyd Hawkins on the proper way to handle asbestos products; failed to enforce a safety plan; and failed to follow government regulations. Because of his disease, Floyd Hawkins experienced physical pain, suffering and mental anguish; endured emotional distress and physical impairment; and incurred medical costs, the complaint says.

Floyd Hawkins children also claim that following the death of their father they suffered the loss of his care, maintenance, support, services, advice, counsel and reasonable contributions and suffered mental anguish. (setexasrecord.com)

Asbestos Settlements

Plaquemine, LA: A retired electrician who filed an asbestos lawsuit in Louisiana has been awarded by the jury hearing his case, nearly $6 million finding that his alleged asbestos exposures at a Dow Chemical facility was a factor in causing his mesothelioma.

At the end of the trial, which ran four weeks, the Louisiana 18th Judicial District Court for Iberville Parish jury held trial defendant Dow Chemical responsible under theories of negligence and unreasonably dangerous premises. Dow Chemical and Westgate, an electrical contractor and the plaintiff’s former employer, were the only defendants remaining at the time of the verdict. (Harrismartin.com)

 

Tags: Asbestos, asbestos lawsuit, Asbestos Mesothelioma

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