A retired maintenance fitter from England has filed a lawsuit against his former employer, alleging they failed to protect him from asbestos-related cancer.

Plaintiff David B., 63, retired from Smart and Brown Engineers Limited, a subsidiary of Thorn Domestics Appliances Ltd.

The company manufactured household appliances including washing machines, refrigerators and freezers. It was subsequently acquired by Electrolux.

David claims that during his time working for the company, he was exposed to asbestos dust. This exposure led to his diagnosis of mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer.

Married to his wife for 39 years, David said: “My mesothelioma diagnosis really did knock me back, and now I am worried about what the future holds for me and Patricia as my condition gets worse.

“I instructed my legal team to investigate where exactly I was exposed to asbestos and if my former employers could have prevented my exposure to it by taking the appropriate safety measures.”

According to David’s legal team, “[m]esothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer that’s caused by exposure to asbestos dust decades ago and it can cause a great deal of pain and suffering for victims like David.“It can take decades for symptoms to develop and often it is then difficult for victims to recall in detail how and where they were exposed.

“We are committed to getting answers for David, and are assisting him by investigating conditions at his former employers.

“We have been left with no choice but to issue legal proceedings in the High Court in the hope David, and his wife, Patricia, will get the answers they want.”

What Is Asbestos?

Occurring naturally in the environment in soil and rocks, asbestos is a group of minerals that are resistant to heat and fire and do not conduct electricity. Because of this, manufacturers began incorporating asbestos on a massive scale into products in the late 1800s.

Asbestos products were used to insulate everything from factories to schools, homes, and ships. It could also be found in automobile parts, roofing shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, and cement.

How You Can Be Exposed

People are exposed to asbestos primarily by inhaling fibers in an environment where asbestos has been disturbed, such as when mining and processing asbestos, making products that contain it, or installing asbestos insulation. Asbestos fibers can also be disturbed when older buildings are demolished or renovated.

In addition, asbestos fibers can be swallowed, such as in drinking water that has flowed through asbestos cement pipes. Family members of workers who are exposed to asbestos through their jobs can experience secondhand exposure from that person’s clothing or skin.

Asbestos-Related Cancer

Asbestos-related cancer develops after continuous exposure to asbestos. One of the most common and prevalent forms of asbestos-related cancer is mesothelioma, a disease that affects the lining of the lungs when the fine fibers of the mineral become lodged in the system.

Other forms of asbestos-related cancer can affect not only the lungs, but other body parts, such as the stomach, chest, colon, and gastrointestinal system.

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or other asbestos-related cancer you may be entitled to substantial compensation. Obtain a free review of your case by contacting an experienced attorney who specializes in asbestos cancer lawsuits.