A former employee of the Bridgestone tire factory has filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that tire factory asbestos exposure led to his diagnosis with asbestos mesothelioma.

The plaintiff, Robert E., is a resident of North Carolina. Robert says that over the course of his career, he suffered prolonged asbestos exposure without adequate warning of the risks, or even the proper protection. As a result, he claims, he was later diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer.

Robert has worked at a number of job sites during his career, including the Bridgestone-Firestone Tire Manufacturing Plant in Wilson, N.C., where he alleges he was exposed to asbestos-containing materials that led to his mesothelioma development. This tire factory asbestos exposure involved close proximity to asbestos and products made with the harmful substance, he claims.

This tire factory asbestos exposure, he alleges, would have occurred back in around 1995—around two decades prior to his diagnosis with mesothelioma cancer in December 2016. The decades-long delay is not unusual for asbestos-related diseases, as they often lie dormant for extended periods of time.

In response, Robert turned to litigation. In his Bridgestone lawsuit, which also names several other defendants that may have contributed to his asbestos exposure, Robert alleges that he was not adequately warned about or protected against the risks of tire factory asbestos exposure.

Robert filed his mesothelioma lawsuit on Oct. 18 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. The lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including negligent failure to warn, defective design, breach of implied warranty, gross negligence, failure to warn, conspiracy and others.

Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer Basics

Mesothelioma is a dangerous form of cancer that, sadly, affects thousands of Americans each year. Mesothelioma attacks the lining of the lungs, a thin layer of tissue known as the mesothelium.

Mesothelioma cancer generally take a long period of time to develop—there is usually a delay of several decades between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma cancer diagnosis, as in the case of Robert’s alleged tire factory asbestos exposure.

The vast majority of mesothelioma cases can be linked with exposure to asbestos. Some may not even be exposed directly to asbestos, and may instead be exposed to asbestos fibers secondhand over long periods of time, allowing fibers to build up.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used for manufacturing purposes such as electrical or building insulation, as well as countless other uses. Asbestos is a known carcinogen, a substance capable of causing cancer.

Filing an Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with or died from an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma cancer after exposure to asbestos or asbestos products, such as asbestos exposure on the job, you may be able to file a mesothelioma lawsuit or seek an asbestos fine.

Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering of cancer like mesothelioma, but it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical bills and lost wages.

The Tire Factory Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit is Case No. 1:17-cv-00942, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.