Honeywell Inc. was at fault for the wrongful death of 59-year-old mechanic James Phillips, a California jury concluded earlier this month.

Phillips’ family was awarded $10.9 million in a mesothelioma cancer lawsuit after the jury concluded there was sufficient evidence to link his asbestos mesothelioma to his decades of mechanical work with Honeywell’s Bendix brakes.

Phillips was diagnosed with mesothelioma in early 2012 and eventually died as a result of this condition in March of the same year. In May 2012, his surviving family members filed an asbestos lawsuit blaming Honeywell for Phillips’ wrongful death.

Phillips is among many workers who were exposed to asbestos on the job and were later stricken with asbestosis, asbestos lung cancer or mesothelioma. Honeywell and other companies continue to deal with mesothelioma class action lawsuits because of products they made that contained asbestos. More than 600,000 individuals have filed asbestos mesothelioma lawsuits across the United States.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of lung cancer responsible for more than 4,800 deaths a year in the United States. Research shows that the leading cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. When asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, these fibers become trapped in the lung and lung lining and, over time, the accumulation of these fibers can cause inflammation, scarring, and tumors. Eventually, an individual with long-term exposure to asbestos may develop asbestos lung cancer.

History of Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral used as a popular building material since the late 1800s through the early 1990s. According to the Mesothelioma Center, “Medical researchers first made a probable causal relationship between exposure to asbestos and lung cancer” in 1935. As result of several studies, the United States and other countries have decided to classify asbestos as a human carcinogen. The use of asbestos is now highly restricted.

Many individuals have been exposed to asbestos materials without their knowledge or consent in both home and work environments. Most individuals are diagnosed with mesothelioma or experience other symptoms of asbestos related lung cancer as much as 15 to 35 years after the initial exposure.

Occupational Exposure to Asbestos

Certain trade professions are at a higher risk of mesothelioma lung cancer. These occupations include:

• Auto mechanics
• Shipyards workers
• Paper mill workers
• Construction workers
• Textile workers
• Insulation installers
• Sheet metal workers
• Roofers
• Toll collectors
• Tilers
• Linotype technicians
• Plumbers

In these occupations, there is a high chance that a worker  had prolonged exposure to asbestos in small, enclosed areas with little or no protective gear.