Ametek Inc. and other companies are facing a new asbestos disease lawsuit, which was filed by a man from Maine alleging the companies failed to warn him that he could experience exposure to asbestos from their products.

The alleged exposure to asbestos reportedly occurred when the man had used the companies’ products during his employment, which included the United States Navy and Maine Central Railroad.

Plaintiff Victor C. alleges the exposure to asbestos occurred on a daily basis, while he and other employees were unaware of the health risks they could potentially suffer from the fibers.

Asbestos Disease Lawsuit

According to the asbestos disease lawsuit, Victor had worked as an aviation electrician in the United States Navy from January 1968 to September 1971 and as a machinist for Maine Central Railroad from 1971 to 1987.

During both employment periods, Victor reportedly sustained daily exposure to asbestos and had no knowledge of the potential health consequences the fibers carried. In addition, Victor had also worked as a machinist for the State of Maine where he also reportedly worked with asbestos products.

During all times relevant, Victor was not provided with any protective equipment to prevent exposure to asbestos nor was he given any disclosures that he could be working with potentially dangerous materials. These facts were not mentioned on the products’ warning labels, he alleges, nor did the companies notify Victor or other employees of potential asbestos exposure.

Due to these circumstances, Victor had worked with these asbestos products without hesitation and did not discover the dangerous nature of asbestos until years later. Victor was recently diagnosed with asbestos lung disease, and opted to file legal action against Ametak, CBS Corporation, and other manufacturers that were responsible for making the materials provided in his previous work environments.

Overview of Asbestos Exposure Problems

Asbestos is a fire and chemical resistant fibrous material that was used for a variety of manufacturing and industrial purposes before the 1980s. In addition to these qualities asbestos was also very cheap to use, which made it an ideal choice for many manufacturers.

Asbestos reached its peak in popularity in World War II, when a number of ships and shipyards had asbestos insulation piping installed. However the problems with exposure to asbestos were soon discovered, which spurred the EPA and other federal officials to impose strict regulations on the use and removal of asbestos.

While asbestos is harmless when dormant, it becomes dangerous when the fibers are released into the air. This causes people in the surrounding area to inhale or swallow the fibers, which can lead to problems like asbestos lung cancer.

It is important to note that asbestos lung cancer can take up to 35 years to progress to the point of developing physical symptoms, which often results in latent diagnoses and shortened life expectancies for patients.

Manufacturers need to provide disclosures to their employees and customers of potential asbestos exposure, if their products are made with the material. Ametak and the other companies named in the asbestos disease lawsuit allegedly failed to do this, which caused Victor to experience regular exposure to asbestos.

This Asbestos Disease Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-00348-WES-LDA, in the Superior Court in the State of Rhode Island.