A Washington man claims that his navy asbestos exposure during the 1970s caused him to develop mesothelioma later in life.

Plaintiff William C. says that he was exposed to products containing asbestos that were produced by IMO Industries, Inc.; Metaled Insulation Inc.; North Coast Electric Company; Syd Carpenter, Marin Contractor Inc.; and Copes-Vulcan Inc. during his work as a match man operator and engineer aboard the U.S. Navy ship USS Badger in the 1970s. He aims to hold the manufactures accountable for his injuries due to navy asbestos exposure, as well as Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.

William says that he was diagnosed with mesothelioma in June 2016, and that his mesothelioma was caused by his asbestos exposure during his work with the Navy, between 1971 and 1973.

Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that causes tumors in the tissues of the lining around the lungs, stomach, heart, and other organs. It most commonly appears around the lungs, especially when caused by asbestos.

Asbestos exposure has been linked to the development of lung cancer since the early 20th century and has been linked to mesothelioma, specifically, not long after.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral and has long been used in building materials. Its long fibers make it durable, and it is heat resistant. However, in the mid 20th century, its use in new building material was largely banned in the United States because of the health impact of the mineral.

Despite the restrictions on asbestos use, the mineral still appears in older building materials, because it is mostly stable and not dangerous when undisturbed because the mineral is only dangerous when the fibers are breathed in. However, people like William are often exposed to many asbestos-containing materials on the job and are harmed from their exposure, if they work with asbestos-containing materials.

In some cases like William’s, workers claim that companies knew that asbestos was dangerous but continued to sell the products despite their knowledge, failing to warn or adequately protect workers from asbestos exposure.

According to William, the companies that produced the asbestos-containing products that caused William’s mesothelioma failed to warn him that the products were dangerous, and greenly misrepresented the products’ safety. Additionally, he claims that the companies should be held liable for creating and selling products with the unsafe design.

William says that because of the companies’ alleged deception and negligence, he was caused “pain, suffering, and disability.” He claims he was physically injured by the mesothelioma that resulted from his Navy asbestos exposure, was emotionally injured from the suffering and pain he was caused and was financially injured because he suffered a loss of wages and incurred significant medical bills to treat his mesothelioma. William says that his injuries are ongoing.

In the Navy asbestos exposure lawsuit, William’s wife, Jill, also claims injury, arguing that because of the companies’ deception, her relationship with William was harmed, and she suffered loss of consortium.

The Navy Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-01437, in the Superior Court of Washington for King County.