Major manufacturing companies are facing an asbestos wrongful death lawsuit, from a man alleging his loved one died from mesothelioma diagnosis.

Considering that a mesothelioma diagnosis is only possible in the case of asbestos exposure, the asbestos wrongful death lawsuit alleges the companies failed to provide protective equipment and did not warn the deceased that their products were potentially hazardous to human health.

Plaintiff Douglas G. is filing this asbestos wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the late William G., alleging William’s mesothelioma diagnosis resulted from regular exposure to asbestos products.

These asbestos products were allegedly manufactured, produced, and installed by Ford Motor Company, Navistar Inc., Sherwin-Williams Company and other companies, all named as defendants. Douglas alleges William and other employees had regularly worked with these asbestos products during his job, which allowed for daily exposure to this deadly substance.

In addition to the first hand asbestos exposure, Douglas claims there is a good chance William and other employees exposed their loved ones to potential asbestos health risks. When working with asbestos, the fibers attach to clothing and may be inhaled by the person handling the garments for washing or other purposes.

This regular asbestos exposure caused William’s eventual mesothelioma diagnosis on Oct. 10, 2013. William eventually died from the disease, leaving Douglas to file this claim on his behalf.

Douglas alleges Ford Motor Company and the other manufacturers either knew or should have known about potential asbestos exposure. Douglas also alleges the companies failed to disclose these risks on their products’ warning labels, and did not provide protective equipment.

Overview of Asbestos Mesothelioma Concerns

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of lung cancer, which is caused specifically by asbestos exposure. Unlike regular lung cancer, the cancer cells develop in the membrane that surrounds the lungs.

This disease can take up to 50 years before progressing to a stage that shows any symptoms, often resulting in latent mesothelioma diagnosis. According to a 2017 report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosis per year in the United States.

While research and improved awareness have allowed for increased rate of early mesothelioma diagnosis, patients with the disease will still most likely have limited treatment options and short survival expectancy.

The majority of mesothelioma diagnosis cases stem from United States military veterans or retired workers who had previously worked in the manufacturing industry, or had high risk blue collar jobs like construction or shipbuilding.

Asbestos can often be found in insulation piping on United States Navy ships and locomotives, and was used for a variety of manufacturing and construction purposes before the 1980s. Asbestos is a fibrous material that was popularity utilized for its fire and chemical resistant qualities, and reached its peak in popularity during World War II.

However after asbestos began to be heavily regulated around the  1970s, there have been numerous cases of asbestos wrongful death claims against companies. Douglas’s claim is one of these cases, alleging the companies knew the risks of asbestos exposure but did not warn his loved one or the general public.

This Asbestos Wrongful Death Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-00077-JHM-CHL, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky.