An asbestos diseases lawsuit has been filed against Owens-Illinois, Inc., a company that allegedly exposed the plaintiff to the carcinogen.

Plaintiff Willie B. worked at a variety of locations as a millwright, laborer, carpenter, pipefitter, and other jobs from 1954 to 1989. He also was exposed to asbestos materials while in the Navy from 1944 to 1947, according to the complaint. Defendant Owens-Illinois manufactured asbestos-containing pipe insulation, block insulation and roof tiles, all of which Willie allegedly handled on the job.

As a result of his exposure to those products, Willie allegedly has the following asbestos diseases:

• Asbestosis
• Impaired pulmonary capacity
• Reduced lung volume
• Interstitial lung fibrosis
• Injury to lung tissue and/or pleura
• Mesothelioma
• Other injuries

The asbestos diseases lawsuit says that “as a direct and proximate result of having inhaled, ingested or otherwise being exposed to asbestos, he has received permanent and painful injuries.”

Asbestos Diseases Took Years to Manifest

When asbestos materials are disturbed, they release tiny fibers into the air. When we inhale or swallow the microscopic fibers, they become embedded inside our bodies. It takes decades, but the trapped fibers can cause inflammation, scarring and genetic changes that sometimes lead to cancer.

Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease that causes breathing problems due to scarring of the lung tissues. Scars make the lung tissue thicken and tighten, inducing pain and difficulty breathing. Asbestosis worsens over time, and there is no cure.

Asbestosis causes shortness of breath with very little physical activity. Asbestosis victims’ risk of developing lung cancer is eight to 10 times higher than those without the disease.

People with asbestosis are apt to die from heart failure because the heart has to pump faster due to the decreased lung function. Other complications include high blood pressure and other lung complications, such as the formation of calcium deposits or fluid collection in the lungs.

According to the asbestos diseases lawsuit, “Because of the latency period of the above asbestos injuries and because of the active concealment by the Defendants of the causes and effects of exposure to asbestos, the Plaintiff has only recently discovered his injuries.”

Dangers of asbestos exposure have been known since 1929, but the defendants are accused of intentionally withholding that information.

“By marketing the asbestos-containing products without warning of the dangerous characteristics of the products, Defendants represented to the Plaintiff and the public, who justifiably relied there on, that asbestos was not dangerous,” alleges the asbestos diseases lawsuit.

In addition, asbestos trade organizations such as the Asbestos Textile Institute, the Magnesia Insulation Manufacturers and National Insulation Manufacturers Association, and the Industrial Hygiene Foundation allegedly participated and sponsored research into the health dangers of asbestos.

The asbestos diseases lawsuit says, “This research showed a link between asbestos inhalations and lung cancer. However, this research was never made public. In fact, this research was deliberately withheld in order to minimize public awareness of the dangers of working with their asbestos-containing products and to maximize the profits of the defendants.”

The Asbestos Diseases Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-00458 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi.