Air & Liquid Systems Corporation and a number of named defendants face a new malignant mesothelioma lawsuit filed in Delaware federal court by a man demanding a trial by jury.

Plaintiff John P. filed the malignant mesothelioma lawsuit alleging that he was exposed to asbestos-containing products and equipment owned by the company during the time of his employment. Allegedly ue to his exposure, he says that he suffered severe and permanent injuries.

John says that he was never aware of the asbestos-containing products and that those products could lead him to harm and future development of malignant mesothelioma, a deadly cancer, the lawsuit states.

He says that he has incurred and will continue to incur loss of income and wages, including diminished earning potential and other pecuniary losses.

The malignant mesothelioma lawsuit was filed on multiple counts including strict liability, negligence, and false representation.

Overview: Malignant Mesothelioma

According to the American Cancer Society, mesothelioma is a serious but rare condition with about 3,000 new cases being diagnosed each year in the United States. Between the early 1970s and early 1990s the rate of diagnoses for mesothelioma steadily increased. It has since gone down slightly. This change and slow decrease has been mostly seen in men and has been related to changes in workplace exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos is a natural mineral known to cause mesothelioma. Due to its special fire resistant properties it had been lauded as a “miracle” but researchers revealed its danger to human health. Material containing asbestos can quickly and easily become damaged. Damage releases durable fibers into the air and, when people inhale or ingest these fibers, they can cause serious injuries including the development of cancer such as mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is cancer in the tissue that lines the heart, stomach, lungs, and other organs of the body. It is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer, and while treatments are available, there is currently no cure. The most common type of mesothelioma is a cancerous or malignant diagnosis that usually affects the lungs. This type is called pleural mesothelioma. Other rarer types include mesothelioma that affects the abdomen, known as peritoneal mesothelioma, the testicles, or the heart.

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma includes painful coughing, chest pain under the rib cage, and shortness of breath. Other symptoms may also include weight loss and unusual lumps of tissue under the skin of the chest.

The primary risk factor for mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. Risk factors that increase the risk for mesothelioma include a family history of mesothelioma, living with someone who works with asbestos, and a personal history of exposure to asbestos.

To prevent and reduce risk of asbestos exposure, employers should provide comprehensive safety regulations. However, most people who have been exposed to asbestos were exposed to it at work. Workers who may face asbestos exposure includes: ship builders, auto mechanics, construction workers, miners, factory workers, and insulation manufacturers.

The Malignant Mesothelioma Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-01101-UNA, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware.