A former worker at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard has filed a lawsuit against numerous manufacturers, alleging that their products caused him to develop mesothelioma.

Plaintiff Donald Y. and his wife Marietta Y. recently filed a lawsuit against several manufacturers, including Air & Liquid Systems Corporation, Crane Co., General Electric Company, Grinnell LLC, and Honeywell International. The lawsuit claims that the named companies manufactured, processed, and supplied asbestos containing products which he came into contact with at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which can be mined and pulled into thin fibers. Asbestos fibers were previously a widely used additive due to their natural resistance to heat, fire, chemicals, and electricity. However, asbestos use has since been limited due to its toxicity.

When an asbestos containing product is cut, moved, or otherwise disturbed, asbestos fibers are released. These fibers can be seriously damaging to the body when inhaled or swallowed, making asbestos products dangerous to work with.

Plaintiff’s Alleged Asbestos Exposure

From 1964 to 2001, Donald claims, he worked at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in a variety of roles, including apprentice, shipfitter, and structural planner and estimator. In March 2018, Donald was diagnosed with asbestos mesothelioma. Donald claims that, while working at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, he came into contact with a variety of asbestos containing products which allegedly caused him to develop the disease.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of certain linings in the body and often linked to asbestos exposure. When asbestos fibers are swallowed or inhaled, they can get trapped in the lungs or abdomen where they can cause cellular damage. If asbestos fibers are inhaled, there is a risk of pleural mesothelioma, affecting the lining of the lungs. If asbestos fibers are swallowed and trapped in the abdomen, there is an increased risk of peritoneal mesothelioma, affecting the lining of the abdominal cavity.

Donald claims that the manufacturers named in the complaint had a duty to warn him and others that their products contained asbestos and that use or exposure increase the risk of fatal conditions such as mesothelioma. The lawsuit also claims that they had a duty to provide safety recommendations for the handling of their products so workers such as Donald could safely interact with the products.

According to the lawsuit, instead of communicating the risks to consumers and recommending safety policies, some manufacturers allegedly concealed that their products contained asbestos and the related health risks.

“Certain Defendants engaged in concerted, and/or conspiratorial activities or omissions which prevented adequate warnings concerning the hazards of asbestos and asbestos-containing products from being provided to those using or exposed to asbestos and asbestos-containing products,” the lawsuit states.

Donald and Marietta claim that they have sustained various damages as a result of Donald’s asbestos exposure. Damages sustained include personal injuries, pain and suffering, impaired enjoyment of life, decreased expected life span, medical expenses, and loss of consortium.

The Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit, Case No. 3:18-cv-05405, seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.