A new asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit was recently filed in federal court against several companies including ABB Inc., Alfa Laval Inc., Armstrong International Inc., and Crane Co.

The asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit was brought by Wisconsin residents Ronald C. and his wife Patricia C. According to the lawsuit, Ronald was exposed to products containing asbestos and machinery requiring or calling for the use of asbestos while he served in the U.S. Navy and while he worked at various jobs throughout Wisconsin.

While in the Navy Ronald served as a boiler tender as well as a laborer and auxiliary equipment operator at Wisconsin Power and Light for over 18 years. During his time in these positions Ronald was allegedly exposed to large quantities of asbestos.

On April 17, was diagnosed with mesothelioma due to his prior exposure to asbestos. He is now suing those companies he says are responsible for his exposure.

As a result of her husband’s mesothelioma, Patricia has joined the lawsuit as a co-plaintiff to bring a loss of consortium claim. Her loss of consortium claim asserts that due to the mesothelioma Patricia has lost her husband’s society, companionship, and support, as well as monetary support.

Loss of consortium claims cannot be brought individually and must be joined with another lawsuit. They are usually brought in hopes of increasing the amount of the potential settlement or award.

Ronald has named multiple defendants and asks the court to hold all of them jointly and severally liable under the theories of market-share liability, concert of action and alternative liability. This is necessary because Ronald is unable to identify each injurious exposure to the asbestos products. Instead, the plaintiff will have to prove that each defendant represented a substantial share of the relevant market of asbestos products.

Overview of Asbestos Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare but serious cancer of the mesothelial tissue that is associated with exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a toxic fibrous mineral that was extremely prevalent in the U.S until the 1990s.

Although asbestos is used much less today due to its serious adverse side effects it is still found in many building and construction materials. Medical researchers estimate that hundreds of thousands of people have died, or will die, from asbestos mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma symptoms are often slow to develop. Mesothelioma can take anywhere between 15-35 years to develop after the victim was exposed to asbestos. Unfortunately for victims, once a patient is diagnosed the cancer may take only months to spread to other organs within the body.

Asbestos mesothelioma lawsuits have been litigated across the nation. Awards and settlements from these lawsuits help victims pay both past and future medical bills as well as compensate victims for the pain and suffering they experienced due to their exposure to asbestos.

In many cases, family members will bring a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of a loved one who previously passed away due to asbestos exposure.

The asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit is Case No. 3:15-cv-00373-wmc, filed in the United States District Court in the Western District of Wisconsin,  Madison division.