A woman recently filed a mesothelioma claim, alleging that her mother died after being exposed to asbestos fibers on her husband’s clothes from his work with defendants’ products.

Plaintiff Judith R. recently filed a lawsuit against numerous companies, including Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, alleging that her mother Dolores P. developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos fibers on her husband’s clothes.

According to the complaint, Dolores’s husband Richard worked as a pipe-fitter and welder at various locations from 1948 through 1967. During this time, Richard allegedly came into contact with asbestos containing products manufactured or installed by the defendants.

During his work, says the asbestos lawsuit, Richard’s clothes would accrue asbestos fibers. Delores allegedly came into these fibers and “would breathe asbestos dust from her husband’s clothes when she laundered them and otherwise came into contact with them.”

In May 2010, Judith says, Delores was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, a cancer which affects the glands in the body. In July 2011, Dolores received a final diagnosis of mesothelioma and died a month later.

Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer affecting the lining of the body in the abdomen, chest, or heart. Asbestos is one of the only known causes of mesothelioma, and the mesothelioma claim argues that Delores developed the disease as a direct result of her asbestos exposure.

“The asbestos fibers and particles on [Richard’s] person, personal belongings, and clothing were carried into the residence, thereby further exposing [Delores] to asbestos fibers and particles through inhalation and ingestion,” the mesothelioma claim argues. “Once inside her body and after a long latency period, the toxic effect of the asbestos fibers manifested as malignant mesothelioma.”

Delores’ daughter aims to hold the manufacturers of the asbestos products accountable for allegedly not properly warning the public, including Richard and Delores, of the risks associated with asbestos. The mesothelioma claim argues that the defendants should have used asbestos-free products or recommended safety precautions for the handling of asbestos. Safety precautions mentioned in the mesothelioma claim include providing clean air and violation, limiting asbestos exposure, creating segregated asbestos areas, and respiratory protections.

“The defendants’ acts and omissions caused [Delores] to be exposed to asbestos fibers in the air, which she breathed,” the mesothelioma claim states.

Judith seeks compensation for damages both for herself and for Delores. Damages Delores sustained due to the defendants’ actions allegedly include pain and suffering, emotional distress, fear of dying, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses, disfigurement, and disability. Judith argues that she herself sustained damages including emotional distress, grief, loss of support, and funeral expenses.

“As a proximate result of the defendants’ acts and omissions that caused the wrongful death of [Delores], [Judith] was caused the lose of her beloved mother,” the mesothelioma claim argues. “She was caused tremendous grief, anguish, and emotional distress.”

The mesothelioma claim seeks compensation for Judith and Delores’ damages in addition to court costs and attorneys’ fees.

The Mesothelioma Claim Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-06795-JTM-JCW in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.