In various ongoing asbestos lung cancer lawsuits, the presiding judge ruled against the defending companies’ motions to dismiss the lawsuits based on their allegedly insufficient arguments that an Illinois court would be inconvenient for all involved parties.

Three of the companies involved have filed motions for appeal with hopes of having the cases moved to other states, which are allegedly more convenient.

The Illinois asbestos lung cancer lawsuits involve several companies, including Union Carbide Corporation, CBS Corporation, Honeywell International, Inc., Crane Co., Georgia Pacific, LLC, Ingersoll-Rand Company, Trane U.S., Inc., General Electric Company, National Automotive Parts Association, Carlisle Brake & Friction, Inc., 84 Lumber Company and York International Corporation.

Many of these companies have moved to have their separate asbestos lung cancer lawsuits moved to their states of business instead of being tried in Madison County Circuit Court in Edwardsville, Ill.

All the above named companies face allegations of exposing the plaintiffs who previously worked for these companies to asbestos or asbestos materials while on the job and, as a result, the plaintiffs and on occasion the plaintiffs’ families were exposed to and inhaled asbestos fibers, which led to their development of asbestos lung cancer.

Many of the named plaintiffs represented in these asbestos lawsuits have allegedly died from conditions related to or directly caused by their asbestos lung cancer condition.

These asbestos lawsuits are just a handful of the thousands of asbestos lung cancer lawsuits and class action lawsuits currently in litigation across the country.

Asbestos Lung Cancer

Asbestos is a naturally occurring material that was commonly used because it is a cheap and affordable building material that was used from the late 1800s until the late 1980s and early 1990s. Research as far back as 1935 has demonstrated a strong link between exposure to asbestos and an individual’s risk of developing a specific type of asbestos lung cancer, also known as mesothelioma.

In the United States and other countries, asbestos use has been strictly monitored and limited and has been categorized as a harmful human carcinogen.

Unlike other cancers, asbestos lung cancer develops almost exclusively from long term exposure to asbestos fibers. According to the Asbestos Lung Cancer website supported by the Mesothelioma Center, 4,800 cases of asbestos lung cancer are diagnosed every year.

Occupational Exposure to Asbestos

Many individuals, especially those in certain trade professions, may have been exposed to asbestos without their knowledge or consent at home or on the job. Individuals who have held certain professions are at a higher risk of asbestos lung cancer. These occupations include:

• Auto mechanics
• Shipyards workers
• Paper mill workers
• Construction workers
• Textile workers
• Insulation installers
• Sheet metal workers
• Roofers
• Toll collectors
• Tilers
• Linotype technicians
• Plumbers

In these occupations, workers may have been exposed to asbestos for long periods of time in small, enclosed spaces with little or no protective gear. Because of this, many employees who have were exposed to asbestos on the job, in a work environment, and even in homes where asbestos is present have filed asbestos lung cancer class action lawsuits.