A Virginia man has filed a lawsuit against a shipyard company and various manufacturers, alleging that during his employment as a shipyard worker in the 1970s, he was exposed to dangerous asbestos fibers that led to his diagnosis with mesothelioma.

The plaintiff, Thaddius J., was a shipyard worker in Virginia from 1972 through 1985, first at Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company (now Huntington Ingalls Incorporated) and later at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Thaddius alleges that, as a shipyard worker, he was exposed to asbestos dust and fibers regularly for years.

On June 27, 2018, Thaddius was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, which he alleges was caused directly by his exposure while he worked as a shipyard worker in the 1970s and 1980s.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants have been aware of the hazards of asbestos inhalation and ingestion for a long time. However, Thaddius claims that he was not warned about the risk of exposure to asbestos by either his employers or the companies responsible for manufacturing the asbestos-containing products to which he was exposed.

According to his shipyard worker lawsuit, these manufacturers and his employers failed to protect him or warn him of the danger associated with asbestos exposure, ultimately leading to his diagnosis with malignant mesothelioma, loss of enjoyment of life, and shortening his life expectancy.

Thaddius filed his shipyard worker asbestos lawsuit on Oct. 19, 2018, in the Virginia Circuit Court for the City of Newport News. The lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including negligence, breach of implied warranty, and strict liability. Thaddius’s wife, Andrea, also filed for spousal pre-death loss of society and consortium because of his battle with mesothelioma.

Many others before Thaddius have similarly turned to litigation after diagnosis with mesothelioma from asbestos exposure. Lawsuits are often filed against manufacturers responsible for asbestos-containing products, as well as employers who failed to warn or protect plaintiffs from exposure. If you or a loved one have suffered from asbestos mesothelioma, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Asbestos Basics

For decades, asbestos has been widely known to be extremely hazardous and is considered a carcinogen, or substance capable of causing cancer. However, there was a long period of time in which this risk wasn’t known. Asbestos was used in a plethora of commercial products like insulation, fireproof drywall, roofing, and more for nearly a century.

Asbestos has been associated with serious diseases, including malignant mesothelioma cancer. Unfortunately, even though asbestos is far less common than it was decades ago—with far more regulations in place—the effects of the disease are only now flourishing. This is because malignant mesothelioma usually does not show symptoms for decades after the exposure to asbestos takes place.

Filing an Asbestos Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has been exposed to asbestos and later been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, you may be able to file a lawsuit. While filing a lawsuit can’t alleviate the pain and suffering of those diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer, or bring a loved one back to life, it can at least help to alleviate the financial cost of medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

The Shipyard Worker Asbestos Lawsuit is Case No. 4:18-cv-00132-AWA-RJK, in the Virginia Circuit Court for the City of Newport News.