A large lawsuit has been filed against multiple companies alleging that their asbestos products caused shipyard mesothelioma.

Plaintiffs Terry and Terri S. allege that Terry, while working at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard, was exposed to products that contained asbestos which resulting in his shipyard mesothelioma diagnosis. Terry and Terri name numerous companies in their shipyard mesothelioma lawsuit including 3M Company, Westinghouse Electric Corp., Keystone Valves and Controls Inc., General Dynamics Corp., and others.

Terry worked as an electrician at Long Beach Naval Shipyard from 1969 to 1996. As an electrician, he allegedly came into repeated contact with products containing asbestos and worked in an environment where asbestos-containing products were being cut, resulting in breathable asbestos fibers in the air.

In 2017, Terry was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. He argues that his shipyard mesothelioma was a direct result of his contact with asbestos products during his time at the shipyard.

Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

Shipyard mesothelioma is a common outcome of working with asbestos products in a shipyard setting. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the tissues which line internal organs. The cancer is aggressive and often times fatal, as mesothelioma is often not diagnosed until advanced stages where surgical removal or chemotherapy are not viable options for treatment.

Although family history and lifestyle can contribute to a mesothelioma diagnosis, the primary risk factor for mesothelioma is asbestos exposure.

Terry argues that the products manufactured and distributed by the defendants were defective and inherently dangerous in their asbestos content. The lawsuit states that the products were “unreasonably dangerous because they released respirable asbestos fibers which resulted in personal injuries to users, consumers, workers, bystanders, and others.” As an alleged result of working with the dangerous products, Terry developed shipyard mesothelioma.

The shipyard mesothelioma lawsuit alleges that the defendant companies knew that asbestos was dangerous and toxic, yet they continued to use the material in the manufacturing of their products. Terry argues that it was the companies’ duty to not use asbestos and to warn workers of the health risks associated with handling their products.

In addition to the asbestos containing products, Terry blames faulty safety masks for his shipyard mesothelioma.

Terry allegedly wore the protective masks provided by 3M Company and Bacou-Dalloz USA Inc. during his work with the asbestos laden products. He argues that the protective masks were insufficient and caused him to experience unnecessary exposure to asbestos fibers.

The lawsuit claims that the safety masks “allowed respirable asbestos fibers to be inhaled from asbestos products during the safety masks ordinary and intended use, and these hazardous asbestos exposures cause severe and fatal diseases, including asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma and other cancers in humans.”

Terry and Terri accuse the companies of false representation, failure to warn, negligence, strict liability, and loss of consortium. They seek a trial by jury, court costs, and damages for medical expenses, loss of income, fraud, and loss of consortium.

The Shipyard Mesothelioma Lawsuit is Case No, 2:18-cv-01575 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.