The family of a man who worked with asbestos in automotive parts has filed a lawsuit after the man’s death from malignant mesothelioma.

According to the plaintiffs, Jesse L. served in the U.S. Army as a mechanic and marksman from Jan. 1944 to March 1946. During that time, he allegedly was exposed to asbestos from brakes, clutches and gaskets when he maintained the Army’s vehicles and equipment. Army veterans often were exposed to asbestos in buildings on military installations. Jesse allegedly was based in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

Beginning in the early 1960s, Jesse owned and operated Labrum Auto Wrecking in Salt Lake City. He continued to be exposed to asbestos in automotive parts because of his work with brakes, clutches and gaskets. The main duty of his job was to dismantle vehicles on site.

Jesse was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in June 2017.

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the lining of an organ. Most of the time, people who have been exposed to asbestos develop mesothelioma in the lining of the lungs due to breathing asbestos dust.

The microscopic asbestos fibers become stuck in the outer lung tissue layer called the mesothelium, a layer of cells that protects the chest cavity. Over time, the constant inflammation caused by embedded asbestos fibers creates scar tissue, which sets the stage for cancerous cells to take root.

Jesse allegedly breathed asbestos dust when he was exposed to asbestos in automotive parts for many years.

Asbestos in Automotive Parts Allegedly Hidden

Jesse’s family alleges that he was unaware that his work with automotive parts was dangerous to his health. The family’s lawsuit alleges the asbestos-containing products failed to contain warnings of the potential health hazards of using them.

At the time he installed or manipulated asbestos-containing materials, he was allegedly “was unaware of the hazards and defects in the asbestos-containing products.”

The asbestos in automotive parts lawsuit alleges the various manufacturers knew that the parts were dangerous when they were used in the manner intended. A naturally occurring mineral, asbestos was originally considered quite a find because of its fire-resistant and heat-resistant properties.

Every industry from the railroads to the ship yards found asbestos-based materials to be effective insulation and construction products.

Asbestos in automotive parts gained popularity because asbestos brake pads and clutch materials could withstand the heat created inside the vehicles.

Jesse’s family alleges that he was never adequately warned of the health hazards associated with using the products. He also was never told about “reasonably safe and sufficient wearing apparel and proper protective equipment and appliances, if in truth there were any” to protect him from harmful asbestos in automotive parts.

The Asbestos in Automotive Parts Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-00470-DB, in the Third Judicial District Court in and for Salt Lake County, State of Utah.