An asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit has been filed by a Maryland resident who claims he worked with the toxic material for more than 30 years without being provided any protective gear from his employer.

Plaintiff Charles A. is suing his former employers, CSX Transportation Inc. and its predecessors Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, for failing to provide a reasonably safe working environment. The asbestos cancer lawsuitclaims that due to his decades of exposure to the carcinogenic substance Charles has now developed malignant mesothelioma.

Plaintiff Charles alleges that while working for the company both as an electrician and as a bay yard worker he was unaware and never informed by his employer that working with the toxic substance could lead to asbestos mesothelioma. He is accusing CSX Transportation of failing to provide protective masks and protective inhalation devices, failing to provide a safe ventilation system, failing to warn of the hazardous effects of asbestos and failing to instruct a safe method of working with asbestos.

The plaintiff is seeking economic compensation from his former employer to help cover the costs of medical and hospital bills. Charles is also seeking pain and suffering compensation as his life expectancy has been greatly shortened.

Asbestos Exposure Risks

Recent studies have found that asbestos exposure is responsible for 12,000 to 15,000 deaths in the United States each year. Asbestos mesothelioma is linked almost exclusively to the prolonged exposure of the cheap material used in construction and transportation vehicle parts. Asbestos cancer takes decades to develop but can spread to the lungs and heart in just a few months.

The most common cases of asbestos mesothelioma occur in professionals who work with the product on an on-going basis. This group includes shipyard workers, construction workers, auto mechanics, paper mill workers, textile workers, insulation installers, sheet metal workers, roofers and tilers.

The asbestos fibers, which are 700 times smaller than a human hair, are inadvertently inhaled by professionals and stored in the lungs. Over time, the tiny, jagged fibers build up and can lead to cancerous development in cells. The cancerous cells then begin to divide and spread, leaving tumors in its path.

Asbestos Lung Cancer Symptoms

Medical experts estimate that asbestos mesothelioma can take anywhere between 15 to 35 years to develop after the first exposure to the material. Unfortunately, it is nearly always in a late stage of development when diagnosed.

Some asbestos lung cancer symptoms include:

• Abdominal swelling
• Retaining fluids
• Fatigue
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain

Recent asbestos cancer lawsuits claim that in addition to professionals who work with asbestos on a continuous basis, families of workers are also at risk for developing mesothelioma due to “secondary exposure.” Workers unknowingly place their families at risk for asbestos cancer because they come home to their loved ones with asbestos fibers clinging to their hair, clothing and tools.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuits

In one of the largest litigation movements in U.S. history, more than 600,000 plaintiffs have filed an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit so far. In general, lawsuits claim what Charles is alleging, that employers were negligent in providing a safe working environment. Others claim that companies knew of the risks of asbestos exposure but did nothing to inform employees of the risks involved. 

The Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 1:15-cv-01439-CCB, in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City.