An Oregon resident who developed asbestos lung damage has filed a personal injury lawsuit against several companies, which include Crane Co., Fraser’s Boiler Service and more.

The plaintiff alleges he was exposed to asbestos for prolonged periods from a myriad of equipment and products.

According to the asbestos lung damage lawsuit, which was filed in California federal court, plaintiff William S. states that he was not aware of the dangers of asbestos while he was around a host of industrial products that were riddled with the dangerous mineral, including asbestos-containing insulation, cement, gaskets and more.

Consequently, he was diagnosed with asbestosis and asbestos-related pleural disease in 2000 and most recently with lung cancer in Dec. 2015.

William blames the named companies who failed to warn him of the hazards and risks that come along with inhaling asbestos fibers.

In addition to Crane Co. and Fraser’s Boiler Service, the asbestos lung damage lawsuit also names several other companies, including:

• Metropolitan Life Insurance Co,
• Plant Products & Supply Co.
• Hill Brothers Chemical Co.
• Puget Sound Commerce Center (formerly Todd Shipyards Corp.)

William is seeking judgment against the defendants for general and punitive damages, loss of income, and medical expenses.  His wife, Glenda, joins the claim for loss of consortium.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that was once valued for its resistance to heat, electrical and chemical damage, and was used by dozens of trades.

With millions of microscopic fibers, asbestos can easily break apart and become airborne and possibly inhaled. Should asbestos fibers be inhaled, they may become lodged in your lungs, potentially leading to asbestos lung damage, lung cancer, or other asbestos-related diseases.

Additionally, because asbestos fibers travel so easily through the air, not only the person working with asbestos-containing products but also bystanders run the risk of inhaling these fibers and developing an asbestos-related disease even decades after exposure.

From the early 1900s through the 1980s, asbestos was used in thousands of different industrial products, including pipe and furnace insulation materials, roofing shingles, floor tiles, millboard, textured paints and other coating materials.

In 1989, the United States banned asbestos in specific products. This ban, however, did not ban the use of asbestos altogether. Additionally, other countries continue to mine asbestos.

As a result, asbestos can still be found in a number of consumer products, including building materials, friction products and heat-resistant fabrics.

Filing an Asbestos Lung Damage Lawsuit

Companies and manufacturers dealing with asbestos have known for almost a century that the inhalation of asbestos fibers is associated with asbestos lung damage including lung cancer and several other debilitating and often fatal asbestos-related diseases.

Thousands of unsuspecting workers were exposed daily to this dangerous carcinogen as they worked in factories, mills, railroads and other industrial occupations.

If you’ve been diagnosed with asbestos lung damage, it’s important to understand your choices, legal rights, and medical options. You may be entitled to compensation for medical treatments, lost wages, physical pain, emotional suffering, and much more.

The Asbestos Lung Damage Lawsuit is Case No. 3:16-cv-04687 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division.