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A woman recently diagnosed with mesothelioma is suing a group of auto parts suppliers, alleging her disease was caused by asbestos from auto parts.
Nancy S. says she did maintenance on vehicles from the 1980s through 2000. She also claims to have worked in the presence of asbestos-containing tractors and trailers. In May of 2015, she was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma.
She alleges her mesothelioma is attributable to negligence on the part of a long list of auto parts businesses, including Autozone Inc., O’Reilly Automotive Stores, Advance Auto Parts, and Blain Supply. She lists many specific brand-name automotive parts by name, such as transmissions by Caterpillar, engines by Cummins, and brakes by Duralast, Eaton, and Pneumo Abex.
As part of this mesothelioma lawsuit, Nancy’s husband Rojelio is also bringing his own claim for loss of consortium, based on the effect of Nancy’s illness on their marital relationship.
The Mesothelioma Lawsuit is Case No. 2015L006799, in the Cook County Circuit Court in Ill.
Automotive Asbestos
Asbestos was previously used in many different industrial applications due to its exceptional ability to prevent transfer of heat. It’s not particularly dangerous when it’s worked well into a compound, but once asbestos breaks free, its microscopic fibers can become airborne and inhaled. These fibers can lodge in respiratory tissue and stay there, potentially leading to asbestos-related respiratory disease.
The federal government began restricting the many uses of asbestos in the 1970s, and all new uses were ultimately banned. However, asbestos is still employed for uses that predated that ban. It appears in trace amounts in some new car parts and still exists in many older parts.
In the automotive industry, asbestos has been used in brake pads, brake shoes, rotors, clutches, gaskets, heat seals, hood liners, and hundreds of other parts. Certain repair and maintenance practices, such as the grinding of brake rotors, present a particular risk of exposure. Ordinary cleaning efforts, such as by wiping or vacuuming, don’t adequately contain asbestos – they can in fact cause even more release of asbestos into the air, increasing the risk of exposure.
Asbestos Mesothelioma
Consumers like Nancy who did car maintenance and repair may be at risk for asbestos mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura, the double-layered membrane that surrounds the lungs and separates them from the chest wall. In the U.S., mesothelioma is almost always caused by asbestos exposure. It is always fatal within at most four years after diagnosis and most patients die within nine to twelve months. Treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery may help relieve symptoms, but it’s not certain whether any type of treatment can prolong the patient’s life.
Like other asbestos-related disease, mesothelioma has a very long incubation period. This means it may not develop until several decades after exposure, sometimes taking 30 to 50 years. A person may develop mesothelioma today based on exposure from several decades ago, even from before asbestos started to be banned in the U.S.
Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual mesothelioma lawsuit or asbestos class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, mesothelioma lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.
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If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos and developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, or cancer in the lining of the lungs, abdomen or chest cavity, you may be able to take legal action against the companies responsible. Don’t delay – in most states the statute of limitations is two years to file an asbestos lawsuit after you’re diagnosed. Obtain a free and confidential case evaluation be filling out the form below.
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