An asbestos lawsuit was filed in California last week by a man suffering from lung cancer who seeks to hold former employers liable for exposing him to asbestos.

Plaintiff Billy J. claims that Foster Wheeler LLC, Schneider Electrics, Eaton Corporation, and Rockwell Automation caused him to develop asbestos lung cancer.

The plaintiff was diagnosed with mesothelioma in November. He claims that his disease was a direct result of the defendants’ actions. He worked for each of the defendants over a period of years and inhaled “toxic asbestos fibers” as a result, according to the asbestos lawsuit.

Billy states that while at the respective work sites, he used asbestos containing products while using all products and following all instructions.

Asbestos Lawsuit

The defendants were accused of negligence by failing to test their products, warn against potential asbestos exposure, or by selling asbestos-containing products. The asbestos lawsuit states that “each of [the defendants] had a duty to exercise due care … and each of them breached said duty of due care.” The defendants allegedly knew, or should have known, about the risk of developing asbestos lung cancer associated with the job or product Billy used in the line of work.

The asbestos lawsuit also alleged that Billy, and other employees who might have interacted with asbestos fibers, were unaware of the potential risks of developing asbestos lung cancer.

Billy’s wife also joined in the asbestos lawsuit, claiming that the asbestos exposure her husband encountered caused loss of consortium, or loss of intimacy with a spouse.

Asbestos Lung Cancer

Asbestos lung cancer is caused when a patient inhales asbestos fibers. The fibers have the ability to sit undetected in the body, sometimes for decades, before developing into cancer. It is most common for patients to develop asbestos lung cancer 20-50 years after initial exposure. Some patients may not even be aware that their lung cancer was caused by asbestos exposure.

Asbestos was widely used for decades. While it is now known to be a dangerous substance, buildings built as recently as 2000 may have been made with asbestos-containing products.

Asbestos lawsuits have been filed across the country accusing dozens of different companies of causing workers to develop asbestos lung cancer. Military bases, ship yards, and construction sites are some of the most common workplaces for asbestos lung cancer to develop.

This asbestos lung cancer lawsuits include counts of personal injury, product liability, and loss of consortium. Plaintiffs are seeking damages for medical expenses, loss of income, general damages, loss of consortium, legal costs, fraud, and punitive damages.

This Asbestos Lung Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 3:14-05585, in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division.