Numerous corporations have been named in an asbestos lawsuit alleging that a deadly mesothelioma diagnosis was caused by the companies’ asbestos containing products.

Plaintiff Carolyn B. recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of her deceased husband, Lewis B., claiming that working with asbestos containing products caused Lewis’ deadly mesothelioma diagnosis. Lewis originally filed the lawsuit against the plaintiffs after receiving his diagnosis, claiming that his mesothelioma was caused by exposure to asbestos containing products.

Following his mesothelioma diagnosis and subsequent lawsuit initiation, Lewis died in July 2017. His wife Carolyn took over the lawsuit as the representative of his estate.

Numerous companies are named in the asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit including Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Ford Motor Company, General Electric Company, Honeywell International Inc., Motorola Inc., and RCA Corporation. The companies named in the asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit were allegedly involved in manufacturing, constructing, distributing, selling, servicing, or installing the asbestos containing products that caused Lewis’ mesothelioma diagnosis.

Asbestos Use

Asbestos is a natural mineral which can be pulled and formed into fibrous crystals. These fibers have a natural resistance to heat, electricity, and corrosion, which made them a popular additive in past construction. However, despite the wide array of uses associated with the material, asbestos posses a serious health risk for the development of cancer.

When asbestos containing products are shifted, cut, or otherwise disturbed, the fibers can be released into the air. These fibers can be inhaled or swallowed, or they can be trapped on clothing which can cause second hand exposure. After the fibers are ingested, they can stay in the body for long periods of time and cause inflammation in the linings of organs. This inflammation is thought to encourage genetic mutation which may lead to the development of cancers such as mesothelioma.

The asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit argues that Lewis received his mesothelioma diagnosis due to his past work with asbestos containing products. Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive form of cancer which affects the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. People who have been exposed to asbestos are at the highest risk for the rare condition, but symptoms can take over twenty years to appear and for affected to consumers to receive a mesothelioma diagnosis.

The lawsuit also claims that the manufacturers wrongfully portrayed the asbestos containing products as safe and did not warn consumers of the risks associated with handling the products. Carolyn argues that these representations were not only negligent but willfully deceptive.

“The defendants […] expressly and impliedly represented to members of the general public, including the purchasers and users of said products, […] that asbestos and asbestos-containing products were of merchantable quality, and safe for the use for which they were intended,” the asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit states.

Carolyn seeks to hold manufacturers, distributers, and other companies accountable for her husband’s mesothelioma diagnosis and subsequent death. The mesothelioma diagnosis lawsuit seeks general damages, court costs, attorneys’ fees, and compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of earnings, and funeral expenses.

The Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-00272 in the Superior Court for the State of Washington, King County.