A South Carolina man recently filed an asbestos lawsuit against several companies, alleging exposure to their products during his work led to his shipyard mesothelioma.

The plaintiff, Joseph M., filed his shipyard mesothelioma against a number of companies that manufactured, sold, or used products containing harmful asbestos that led to his exposure to the chemical during his work at a shipyard.

Joseph worked as an apprentice, machinist, engineer, and supervisor at a machine shop of the Charleston Navy Shipyard. Throughout his decades of work at the shipyard, Joseph claims he was exposed to asbestos products and machinery. The inhalation of dust, fibers, and particles from asbestos or asbestos products placed Joseph and other workers at serious risk of developing an asbestos-related disease, including mesothelioma. He was indeed diagnosed with mesothelioma years later.

The shipyard mesothelioma risk was substantial, the lawsuit claims, yet Joseph was not adequately warned about this risk or given preventative clothing, equipment, or training to protect against this risk.

Joseph filed his shipyard mesothelioma lawsuit at the beginning of November on multiple counts, including negligence, product liability, gross negligence, and punitive damages. Joseph’s wife Pauline also filed one count of loss of consortium.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral used for manufacturing purposes such as electrical or building insulation, as well as countless other uses. Asbestos is a known carcinogen, a substance capable of causing cancer. Asbestos is closely linked with the development of mesothelioma cancer.

The Basics of Asbestos Mesothelioma Cancer

Mesothelioma is a dangerous form of cancer that unfortunately affects thousands of Americans each and every year.

Mesothelioma attacks the lining of the lungs, a thin layer of tissue known as the mesothelium. Mesothelioma cancer generally takes a long period of time to develop. Because of this, there is usually a delay of several decades between asbestos exposure and a mesothelioma cancer diagnosis, as in the case of this shipyard mesothelioma from asbestos exposure claim.

Studies indicate that the vast majority of mesothelioma cases can be linked to exposure to asbestos. Some patients who develop asbestos mesothelioma cancer may not even have been exposed to asbestos directly, and may instead have been exposed to asbestos fibers secondhand over long periods of time, which allows fibers to build up.

Filing an Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with or died from an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma cancer after exposure to asbestos or asbestos products, such as asbestos exposure on the job, you may be able to file a mesothelioma lawsuit or seek an asbestos fine. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering of cancer like mesothelioma, but it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical bills and lost wages.

The Shipyard Mesothelioma Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-02966-DCN, in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.