A new asbestos lung cancer lawsuit filed by a Missouri resident claims that products manufactured by multiple companies, including DAP and Honeywell, contained asbestos and caused him to develop lung cancer.

On July 23, plaintiff John B. and his wife Beatrice B. filed a lawsuit against numerous companies including DAP Inc., Honeywell International Inc., and General Gasket Corp., alleging that the manufacturers negligently included asbestos in their products.

In the 1970s, John says he was employed in Pennsylvania where his work put him in regular contact with the defendants’ asbestos-containing products. During his time, John allegedly was exposed to asbestos and inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers because he worked with the defendants’ products.

In September 2017, John was diagnosed with lung cancer, a disease he believes to be directly related to his asbestos exposure, prompting the asbestos lung cancer lawsuit. 

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral which can be mined and pulled into fiber. These fibers alone can be used as an insulator or they can be combined with other materials. Because asbestos is naturally resistant to heat, electricity, and chemical corrosion, the fibers are often mixed with materials to imbue these characteristics. However, the widespread use of asbestos was halted when dangers associated with the material were revealed.

When asbestos or asbestos-containing products are disturbed, they release microscopic asbestos fibers into the air where they can be inhaled or swallowed. Once inside the body, asbestos fibers are difficult to expel. Instead of being released, they can stay inside the body for long periods of time and cause inflammation and cellular damage, increasing the risk for dangerous conditions such as lung cancer.

Because of the risks, asbestos is not used as often as it used to be. However, workers who came into contact with asbestos products at their peak may only now be developing symptoms. Occupations at risk include military workers, shipyard workers, auto mechanics, paper mill workers, construction workers, textile workers, insulation workers, sheet metal workers, roofers, roll collectors, tilers, and plumbers. Unfortunately, many workers do not know they were at risk until 20 to 50 years after their exposure when they develop conditions including mesothelioma and lung cancer, as was John’s case.

John and his wife aim to hold the defendants accountable for their asbestos lung cancer lawsuit, arguing that they could have used materials other than asbestos when manufacturing their products. In their asbestos lung cancer lawsuit, the couple also argues that the defendants did not warn John and other employees of the risks associated with asbestos and did not provide instructions on how to handle the products safely.

Today, there is a wide variety of personal protective equipment available to protect workers from asbestos exposure. These items include respirators to purify breathing the air with any asbestos fibers, eyewear to protect from debris, and disposable or rubber apparel to avoid asbestos fibers sticking to clothes, skin, and hair where it can cause second-hand exposure.

The asbestos lung cancer lawsuit seeks actual damages and compensatory damages exceeding $50,000. The suit also seeks court costs and attorneys’ fees.

The Asbestos Lung Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 1822-CC10811 in the St. Louis 22^nd Judicial Circuit Court.