In a new lawsuit filed in an Illinois court, a couple allege that occupational exposure to asbestos led to the husband’s development of lung cancer.

The lawsuit claiming occupational exposure to asbestos was filed by plaintiffs Weston H. and Joan H. on Feb. 23, 2018 and names several companies as contributors to the injury. Among the defendants are Buffalo Air Handling Inc., Cleaver-Brooks Inc., and Gagnon Inc.

Weston says he is disabled and disfigured because of his diagnosis of lung cancer on Nov. 23, 2016 and subsequent treatment for the illness. He alleges in the narrative of the lawsuit that he had occupational exposure to asbestos fibers on multiple occasions over a career that spanned from 1960 to 2000.

Although alternatives were readily available, the plaintiffs claim that the defendants chose to include asbestos fibers in their products. This inclusion occurred despite available information about the dangers of occupational exposure to asbestos.

The couple allege that no effort was made to provide adequate warning or pass this information on to those that would likely be affected by asbestos fiber presence.

Weston claims that his occupational exposure to asbestos forced him to inhale or ingest fibers emanating from products that included them. He and Joan are seeking a minimum of $50,000 in compensatory damages for his injury.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a loose term covering a group of six mineral fibers that are mined from the earth. The different fibers are Chrysotile, Amosite, Crocidolite, Tremolite, Actinolite, and Anthophyllite.

The most dangerous of these six are Tremolite and Amosite asbestos fibers, which are sharp and needle-like, making them easy to embed in the tissues of the lungs and abdomen when inhaled and ingested.

Tremolite and Amosite are the most common causes of mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer and other asbestos-related disease being diagnosed today. While Tremolite is not mined for commercial use today, Amosite can still be found in some buildings and different products like insulation and wallboard.

The average latency period from personal or occupational exposure to asbestos to development of disease is 30 years. So, while Tremolite is no longer mined for commercial products, disease related to its former use will be seen for many years to come.

What were Asbestos Benefits?

Asbestos fibers were utilized in construction building materials because of their strength of the fibrous threads. They were also used because of their electrical, chemical, heat, and fire resistance.

Construction workers, pipe fitters, shipyard workers and other manual laborers were and still are most at risk for occupational exposure to asbestos at some point over their career. Additionally, spouses that might have handled clothing soiled by fibers as well as other family members could also be at risk for injury development.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with asbestos-related disease such as asbestosis, lung cancer, or mesothelioma, you may have a legal claim of your own.