A Florida resident has filed a mesothelioma lawsuit against several defendants including but not limited to America Honda Motor Company Inc., Benjamin Moore & Co., Lowe’s Companies Inc., Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, and Pfizer Inc. Each defendant (excepting Metropolitan) has been accused of exposing plaintiff Leonard S. to asbestos. The plaintiff then allegedly developed mesotheliomaas a direct result of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos Exposure in Mesothelioma Lawsuit

According to the mesothelioma lawsuit, Leonard was wrongfully exposed to asbestos in several different areas. From 1972-1979, Leonard allegedly experienced occupational asbestos exposure as he worked with his father to renovate houses. During this period, he worked with several products, such as Benjamin Moore paint, Azroc floor tile and Certainteed roofing materials, which contained asbestos.

From 1976 to 1984, Leonard worked as a mechanic at Gulf Service Station and Exxon Service Station working on vehicles. During this period, the plaintiff was exposed to asbestos through the brakes manufactured by companies such as Eaton Corporation and Honeywell, according to the asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit.

From 1976 to 2000, Leonard experienced asbestos exposure while working on his own vehicles including cars, motorcycles, and tractors, according to the mesothelioma lawsuit. Defendants such as Toyota Motor Sales, Autozone, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries were associated with this type of asbestos exposure.

The mesothelioma lawsuit lists several counts against the various defendants including negligence, breach of implied warranty, willful and wanton conduct, false representation, failure to warn, conspiracy, and loss of consortium (or loss of intimacy with a spouse). Leonard claims that the defendants were aware (or should have been aware) of the asbestos dangers and failed to communicate those dangers to the public.

Conspiracy is only in regard to Metropolitan Life Insurance Company who is accused of failing to “exercise reasonable care to conduct or publish complete, adequate, and accurate tests of the health effects of asbestos” in addition to causing the publication of “intentionally false, misleading, inaccurate, and deceptive information about the health effects of asbestos exposure,” according to the mesothelioma lawsuit. 

Asbestos Mesothelioma

Leonard was diagnosed with mesothelioma in September 2014.  Asbestos exposure is commonly associated with mesothelioma in addition to lung cancer. It is estimated that thousands have died or will die from asbestos mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer. 

While asbestos use has seriously decreased due to asbestos risks, thousands of individuals may be at risk if they worked in buildings built as late as 2000. Asbestos may be found in walls, paint, automobile parts, or many other common items.

It may take anytime between 15 and 25 years for asbestos exposure to develop into mesothelioma or lung cancer. Asbestos-related diseases include mesothelioma, lung cancer, cancer in the lung linings, cancer in the abdomen linings, and cancer in the chest cavity. Mesothelioma class action lawsuits and individual mesothelioma lawsuits have been filed by individuals and families who have suffered from diseases related to asbestos exposure.