A plaintiff, William A., recently filed an asbestos lung cancer lawsuit against Anco Insulations, Inc, and a handful of other corporations, in a Louisiana court. William alleges that he was diagnosed with lung cancer as result of his exposure to asbestos while working for the defendants.

According to the lung cancer from asbestos lawsuit, William worked for various employers from 1978 to 2017 as a journeyman electrician. William alleges that while working, he came into contact with asbestos products that were manufactured, marketed, and installed by the defendant. According to the lung cancer lawsuit, this caused William to suffer from “severe, permanent, and disabling injuries.” William was diagnosed with lung cancer in August of 2017.

The asbestos lawsuit further asserts that due to the long latency period that exists between the time the patient is exposed to asbestos and the and the time symptoms of asbestos lung cancer develop, William and his family could not have known about his condition until recently.

William asserts that the defendants were negligent in their manufacturing, selling, and supplying of asbestos products. William is seeking monetary damages for his past, present, and future medical bills.  He also asks the court to award damages for his mental and physical pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.

Lung Cancer from Asbestos

In the U.S., approximately 200,000 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer every year. Lung cancer is statistically one of the most fatal cancers in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more Americans die from lung cancer than any type of cancer in the U.S.

Lung cancer occurs when the body’s cells begin growing at an out of control rate.  The abnormal cell growth generally begins in the lungs. Unfortunately, in its advanced stages, lung cancer may also spread to other body organs and the lymph nodes. When cancer cells spread from one body organ to another it is called metastases.

Lung cancer can result from a variety of different causes. For a vast majority of Americans, tobacco smoke is a major cause of lung cancer. However, a small but albeit significant portion of lung cancer patients develop lung cancer from asbestos exposure.

Filing Asbestos Lawsuits

It is fairly common in asbestos lawsuits for former employers to try and discount a plaintiff’s claims by asserting that the plaintiff’s lung cancer was actually a result of tobacco smoke. However, attorneys fighting on the victim’s behalf have successfully argued otherwise. Some victims of an asbestos lung cancer have been awarded millions of dollars in compensation.

A typical issue with lung cancer from asbestos exposure is that the patient or plaintiff does not know that they have been exposed to asbestos until much later on. In some cases, symptoms of an asbestos exposure and lung cancer diagnosis can take 20-50 years to develop.

The Lung Cancer from Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-12062, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.