Mesothelioma Lawyers Blog
While many mesothelioma victims were directly exposed to asbestos on the job, they have may have unknowingly exposed their family members when returning home from work in clothing covered with asbestos dust.
According to a recent news article from Owensboro Messenger, a woman is suing several large corporations including General Electric, Big Rivers Electric Corporation, and Alcoa for negligence in connection with her mesothelioma diagnosis. Victim first went to see a doctor complaining of shortness of breath. Her doctor soon diagnosed her with malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma very rarely occurs without patient having been exposed to asbestos fibers.
According to her complaint for civil negligence, she was exposed to asbestos from her husband’s work clothes. He husband worked as a union pipe insulator. Asbestos was heavily used for pipe insulation, due to its cheap cost to manufacture and natural ability to resist heat. Her late husband filed a lawsuit against Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corporation after he was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 1986.
Victim alleged her husband would regularly come home from work covered in pipe insulation dust now known to contain asbestos. This asbestos was responsible for his death from mesothelioma. During a deposition, victim testified she would frequently have to shake out his clothing to remove loose dust prior to washing it. She said sometimes she did this outside, but on cold days she would do this in her basement. She testified the dust was heavy enough she had to use a broom to sweep it up after she shook out his work clothes.
Victim underwent a major surgery at a cancer hospital in Boston, where doctors removed the lining of lungs, removed two ribs, scraped her diaphragm, and gave her chemotherapy to treat the deadly form of cancer. She is currently scheduled for more chemotherapy, and her attorneys say her quality of life has suffered substantially. As our mesothelioma attorneys can explain, asbestos-related illnesses are often deadly, and generally leave victims in extreme pain during the remainder of their lives.
Defendants are denying any and all liability in connection with her mesothelioma diagnosis and repeatedly questioned her during depositions about whether she was present during any renovations to her home or during any auto repairs. This is because renovations may release asbestos that is contained in the home and expose occupants to the deadly material. Auto parts, especially brakes, were frequently made of asbestos material so they would be fire and heat resistant.
This highlights one of the major issues in many asbestos lawsuits. There is virtually no denying victim’s mesothelioma was due to asbestos exposure, but because it was used by some many companies, it is often hard to prove who is actually responsible for patients’ actual asbestos exposure. Basically, it is not enough to prove you got mesothelioma from asbestos, you must prove who manufactured or otherwise exposed you to asbestos.
These companies defense is essentially “it wasn’t our asbestos, which made her sick.” One of the best things you can do to assist your asbestos injury attorney is to try to remember your complete work history and the work history of those living in your household. The more information you can provide, the more likely it is you will be successful in your case.
If you are exposed to mesothelioma in Massachusetts, call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for a free and confidential appointment — (617) 777-7777.
More Blog Entries:
EPA Investigates Improper Asbestos Removal at Old School Building Slated for Demolition, August 28, Boston Mesothelioma Lawyers Blog