A deceased Texas man’s family is suing Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company alleging that the lung cancer that took his life was a result of his direct exposure to hazardous asbestos particles during his job.

Joycelyn F., the wife of deceased Edward F., and their two daughters filed an asbestos lawsuit on Sept. 29, 2014 in the Jefferson County District Court. The lawsuit accuses defendant Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company of gross negligence.

Edward was an employee of Goodyear and while working at Goodyear’s Jefferson County plant, suffered toxic asbestos exposure which resulted in him being diagnosed with lung cancer, the asbestos lawsuit alleges. Edward died from asbestos lung cancer on Nov. 27, 2013.

Edward’s family alleges in the asbestos lung cancer lawsuit that Goodyear was aware for many decades that asbestos exposure could cause diseases like lung cancer. However, the company still allowed employees to work with and near the toxic material. The asbestos lawsuit further alleges that Goodyear negligently and knowingly subjected Edward to dangerous asbestos exposure and did not provide reasonable protection.

His widow Joycelyn alleges in the Goodyear asbestos lawsuit that her husband was never provided with sufficient protective apparel while working near dangerous asbestos-containing products. She claims that Goodyear had the duty to warn workers like her husband of the risks involved in their job and to train them in safely handling asbestos products. Instead, Goodyear fraudulently concealed the dangerous nature of Edward’s job while asking him to work near asbestos products, the lawsuit claims. The family is blaming Goodyear for using asbestos in its products when safer alternatives were available.

In her lawsuit, Joycelyn is seeking exemplary damages as well as punitive damages, in addition to costs of court, medical costs and attorney’s fees.

The  Goodyear Asbestos Lawsuit is Case No. A-196165, Jefferson County District Court.

Dangers of Asbestos Exposure

Though it has been established that exposure to asbestos can cause lung cancer — and the greater the exposure to asbestos, the greater the risk that lung cancer will crop up — lung cancer isn’t the only health problem linked to asbestos exposure. Exposure to asbestos fibers has been linked to lymphoma, asbestosis (scarring of the lungs that restricts breathing), asbestos mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the chest cavity), and silicosis. The chances of getting an asbestos-related illness increase as the level and duration of exposure to asbestos increases.

Asbestos Cancer Lawsuits

More than 600,000 victims have filed asbestos related lawsuits in the past few decades alone and asbestos litigation has become some of the most expensive and intricate types of lawsuits in the history of U.S. court cases. The majority of asbestos litigation consists of plaintiffs who have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases after prolonged exposure to asbestos in the workplace.