A wrongful death lawsuit, first filed almost five years ago now, has finally come to a close as the parties have reached a mesothelioma settlement. The lawsuit was filed by a New York woman on behalf of her late husband, alleging that his death was caused by exposure to asbestos, leading to his diagnosis with mesothelioma.

The lawsuit was filed by Patricia L. after the death of her husband Frank. Frank worked at a steel company and an iron works company early in his career, and later owned and operated his own steel erector business for 28 years. Unfortunately, Frank was diagnosed with and died from mesothelioma cancer on Sept. 21, 2013.

According to Patricia’s lawsuit, Frank’s death was caused by exposure to asbestos over the years from asbestos-containing products. The manufacturers of these products are named in the lawsuit, including R.T. Vanderbilt Co.

This mesothelioma settlement is not the first financial penalty to hit R.T. Vanderbilt Co. In 2015, the company was ordered to pay a $10.55 million civil judgment by the New York Supreme Court in Schenectady over asbestos-contaminated talc.

According to the lawsuit, the companies named knowingly engaged in the sale and distribution of asbestos-containing materials, exposing her husband to the dangerous substance in the course of his work.  The suit states that the “Plaintiff, for a period of many years, was exposed to asbestos products while working in facilities or was exposed to the Defendant’s products through the normal use of these products.”

Patricia’s lawsuit argued that her husband’s death was a direct result of his exposure to these products and subsequent diagnosis with mesothelioma.

The mesothelioma settlement was successfully reached just after the jury was selected, and on the day that opening statements were supposed to occur.

Background of Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally-occurring mineral that used to be popular for commercial purposes such as electrical or building insulation, as well as countless others. However, the material is now known to be hazardous, and regulations regarding the use of asbestos have been in place for decades.

Asbestos exposure can cause several serious health problems, including mesothelioma cancer. In many cases, mesothelioma can take decades to develop, so it is often diagnosed at a late stage of development, when it has reached its later and more dangerous stage.

Pursuing a Mesothelioma Settlement

Even though the use of asbestos has been heavily regulated in the last few decades, this delay in cancer development means that those exposed to asbestos decades ago are only now being diagnosed with life-threatening cancer.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with or died from an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma cancer after occupational asbestos exposure, you may be able to seek a mesothelioma settlement.

Reaching a mesothelioma settlement cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by the disease, or bring a loved one back to life, but it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical bills and lost wages.