The correlation between asbestos and lung cancer has been known since the early 20th century. In the 1970s, U.S. health officials started implementing new restrictions to help prevent exposure.

However, these restrictions came too late for many industrial workers and United States military veterans who had inhaled asbestos fibers on a daily basis while being oblivious to the potential health problems.

Many of these people and their loved ones have opted to file legal action against manufacturers for failing to warn them against the correlation between asbestos and lung cancer, with one of the most recent claims filed by a man from Louisiana.

Plaintiff Willie C. allegedly experienced regular occupational asbestos exposure while working at the Algiers yard of Avondale Shipyards from 1969 to 2013. During his employment period, Willie reportedly handled asbestos containing products and regularly inhaled the fibers that were released into the air at his workplace.

Due to this regular exposure, Willie says he developed asbestos lung cancer and has been contending with the disease ever since. Willie alleges that Avondale Shipyards and the manufacturers named in his asbestos disease lawsuit knew of the serious health risks associated with their products, but failed to disclose them on product labels.

Willie’s asbestos disease lawsuit further points out that the companies had been designing, testing, manufacturing, and installing asbestos products long before his employment period.

He says defendant company Westinghouse Electric Corporation, now known as CBS Corporation, knew their asbestos products could cause serious health problems as far back as the 1940s.

According to the asbestos disease lawsuit, Westinghouse had been a member of the American Ceramic Society and National Safety Council and was getting scientific studies indicating a correlation between asbestos and lung cancer.

Furthermore, Westinghouse allegedly ran a program to improve its manufacturing process in the 1950s while continuing to make asbestos products until the mid 1970s. Before 1972, Willie says, Westinghouse allegedly failed to provide any warnings regarding asbestos exposure and its potential health hazards.

Overview of Asbestos Health Hazards

Asbestos is a fibrous material that was commonly used for insulation purposes before the 1980s for its fire and chemical resistant qualities. It reached its peak in popularity in World War II, when it was used in the construction of United States Navy ships for insulation and other similar purposes.

However, it has long been known that asbestos poses serious health problems and has been reportedly causing numerous cases of lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Asbestos lung cancer can develop when airborne fibers are either inhaled or swallowed and become lodged in the lung cavity. This disease can often take decades to progress to the point where patients experience symptoms, often resulting in late diagnoses and limited treatment options.

Due to these serious health concerns, there are strict federal regulations in place that limit the use of asbestos and how it is to be removed from a site.

Even though these health concerns are vital to industry workers and the general public, Avondale Shipyards and the other companies named in Willie’s claim allegedly failed to disclose this information. Willie is seeking compensation for all past and future medical expenses, along with negligence and failure to warn.

This Asbestos Disease Lawsuit is Case No. 2:19-cv-01709-BWA-DMD, in the Civil District Court for the Parish of New Orleans, State of Louisiana.