A Washington couple alleges the husband developed mesothelioma after years of shipyard asbestos exposure. The couple claims that the shipyard he worked on had used asbestos containing products manufactured by the defendant companies, which resulted in continuous shipyard asbestos exposure.

Plaintiffs Samuel S. and Anita S. are filing this mesothelioma lawsuit against ABB Inc., Autozone Inc. and other manufacturing companies, for allegedly manufacturing unreasonably dangerous products.

According to the asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit, Samuel had worked as an electrician at various job sites from 1956 to 1959 and 1966 to 2003. During the time of the suit, Samuel had worked at Newport News Shipbuilding from 1959 to 1966 on submarine construction.

Overview of Asbestos Mesothelioma Allegations

The shipyard and his other employment jobsites had allegedly utilized asbestos products for a variety of different manufacturing, insulation, and construction purposes.

Asbestos is a fibrous material that was popularly utilized for various industrial purposes before the 1980s, and is found in many older homes and buildings throughout the country. Manufacturing companies utilized asbestos for its fire and chemical resistant qualities, as well as being less expensive compared to other materials.

Due to Samuel’s regular work as an electrician and other similar roles on these jobsites, Samuel was allegedly subjected to regular shipyard asbestos exposure. During his days of construction work on the submarines, he installed wire-way hangers and cableways in which the asbestos exposure may have occurred.

In addition to his employment periods, Samuel has worked on brake mechanisms throughout his life and further increased his risks of asbestos related health complications.

According to the asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit, Samuel was diagnosed with mesothelioma in May 2016 and has contended with the condition ever since. Even though Samuel has undergone treatment for this cancer, he and Anita’s lives are permanently compromised by the asbestos disease.

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer, which is specifically induced by asbestos exposure. Once the fibers are either inhaled or swallowed, they could become embedded in the lungs or stomach. In the case of mesothelioma, the asbestos fibers become lodged in the mucus lining in the lungs and eventually fester into cancer cells.

Even though this disease is similar to asbestos lung cancer, the disease progresses differently and affects the lungs in different ways. Often, mesothelioma can take up to 50 years before showing any symptoms, which often results in latent diagnosis and limited treatment options.

Due to the long dormancy period of this disease, a number of military veterans and retired industrial workers have come forward after learning their disease was caused by asbestos exposure. Samuel is one of these former workers, alleging he was regularly subjected to shipyard asbestos exposure.

Even though shipyard asbestos exposure can result in potentially deadly health complications, the manufacturing companies allegedly did nothing to warn Samuel or other consumers against the dangers. In addition, there were no product labels that warned against asbestos exposure or the potential health problems associated therewith.

This Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-01508, in the Superior Court of the State of Washington in and for King County.