A man who says he developed asbestos related lung disease now wants to hold companies accountable for his injuries and resulting medical expenses in a lawsuit.

Plaintiff Louis P. and his wife are plaintiffs in the latest lawsuit filed over asbestos related lung disease, which Louis P. says he was exposed to while working for the Navy.

Louis says that he was exposed to asbestos while working for the U.S. Navy as an instructor and machinist mate while working on the USS Constellation from February 1965 to January 1969 and the USS Kitty Hawk from February 1961 to August 1964.

Louis alleges in his lawsuit that the development of his asbestos related lung disease was caused by his exposure to fibers and dust while working in those positions.

The lawsuit says that the couple has filed a legal claim based on failure to warn and manufacturing and design defect claims. The plaintiff argues that he was not aware at the time of exposure that asbestos containing products or that asbestos presented any risk of disease or injury, but that he developed significant medical conditions directly due to his exposure to asbestos containing products and asbestos directly.

The plaintiff says that he has already incurred and will have to continue incurring cost for surgeons, physicians, medicine, nurses, hospital care, x-rays, and other medical treatment because of his diagnosis.

The U.S. Department for Veterans Affairs states that many different service members could have been exposed to asbestos while working in certain jobs such as vehicle repair, shipyards or construction or those who served in Southeast Asia, the Middle East or in Iraq.

Concerns about asbestos exposure and cancer risk have become more widespread in recent years since many people who have developed lung cancer from asbestos or asbestos related pleural disease were exposed to the fibers decades ago.

Conditions such as mesothelioma often take decades to develop from the initial exposure to asbestos fibers, and for this reason, many men and women who were exposed to these fibers in their workplace are now just receiving an asbestos related lung disease diagnosis.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen, which is a term used to refer to a substance that causes cancer.  Initial asbestos exposure might occur in the workplace, and decades ago, employees may have brought asbestos fibers home on their clothing.

Companies that may expose workers to asbestos now use at-work showers and clothes-changing facilities to minimize the risk of secondhand asbestos exposure.

A diagnosis such as mesothelioma might not happen until decades after the original event exposing the victim to the fibers. However, once a person receives this diagnosis, he or she will face a declining medical condition overall and no cure for the disease.

This Asbestos Lawsuit is Case No. 2:19-cv-00111 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.