A couple claims they are contending with the long term emotional and physical effects of lung cancer caused by asbestos. The couple has lodged a lawsuit against Carrier Corporation and other manufacturing companies alleging the husband was exposed to the carcinogen while he worked for the companies.

The couple alleges the company failed to warn them against potential asbestos exposure, which reportedly resulted in the husband developing asbestos lung cancer.

Plaintiff Gregory W. and Mary Beth W. say that the companies failed to provide sufficient disclosures of potential asbestos exposure when working with their products putting the couple at risk for long term health complications. The products in question were manufactured, sold, distributed, or installed by Carrier Corporation and the other manufacturers. The products Gregory worked with allegedly contained asbestos.

Overview of Asbestos Health Concerns

According to the American Cancer Society, asbestos is a fibrous material that was commonly used for a variety of industrial purposes before the 1980s, due to its fire and chemical resistant qualities. These qualities made asbestos a good choice of insulation material, with it commonly being found in older buildings and numerous United States Navy vessels and shipyards.

However, long term health complications associated with asbestos exposure soon became a prime concern for federal authorities especially when numerous cases of lung cancer caused by asbestos were reported. While smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, approximately 6,000 Americans are killed each year from lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure.

Even though the risks surrounding asbestos exposure is well documented now, federal health authorities in the United States did not start implementing infrastructure measures to protect workers until the 1980s. In fact, although work safety precautions were implemented in England in the 1930s to help protect workers against asbestos exposure, a huge number of ships were built during World War II — leaving veterans exposed to latent health problems.

A number of other industrial and manufacturing occupations have also become widely associated with a high risk of asbestos exposure including:

• Shipyards Workers
• Auto Mechanics
• Paper Mill Workers
• Construction Workers
• Textile Workers
• Insulation Installers
• Sheet Metal Workers
• Roofers
• Toll Collectors
• Tilers
• Linotype Technicians
• Plumbers

Gregory alleges used these products throughout his career, causing regular asbestos exposure. According to the lawsuit, Gregory was diagnosed with asbestos lung cancer on March 13, 2018 and has been contending with the disease ever since.

People can either inhale or accidentally swallow asbestos fibers released in the air, which can cause significant scarring in the lungs. In addition, people can also suffer second asbestos exposure when handling clothing of the primary carrier.

It is important to note that asbestos lung cancer can take up to 35 years to develop to the point of exhibiting symptoms, which often results in latent diagnoses and limited treatment options.

Gregory and Mary Beth opted to file legal action against Carrier Corporation and the other companies, after discovering they had safer alternatives to asbestos, but chose to expose their workers anyway.

In addition, the lawsuit alleges that the companies acted negligently by not disclosing the fact that their products contained asbestos and that the fibers could be released when handled.

Gregory and Mary Beth are seeking over $50,000 in compensation, with damages including negligence and loss of consortium.

This Asbestos Disease Lawsuit is Case No. 19-L-0012, in St. Clair County Circuit Court.