New Lawsuit Blames Man's Former Employer for Asbestosis Diagnosis

Beaumont, TXThe wife and son of a deceased Texas refinery worker have filed suit against his former employer over claims that the company was responsible for the development of the pulmonary asbestosis that led to his death.

span itemprop="image" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/ImageObject" style="display:block">In the suit, Willie Mae and Michael Defee allege that their husband and father, Luther Defee, was regularly exposed to asbestos dust while working for defendants Pure Oil (now renamed Unocal) and Chevron. Over the years, Luther developed respiratory problems that were later diagnosed as asbestosis and lung cancer, according to the Southeast Texas Record.

The suit alleges that the companies knew of the risk involved in working with asbestos but failed to warn Defee and his coworkers. The plaintiffs also claim that both companies failed to take necessary engineering precautions when dealing with asbestos.

Asbestos was commonly used as an insulation and building material until the 1970s, when inhalation of the material was linked to life threatening conditions like asbestosis and mesothelioma (a form of cancer). According to the National Cancer Institute, cancerous symptoms can take 10 to 40 years to develop after initial exposure to asbestos.