A man and his wife have filed a mesothelioma lawsuit alleging the husband became ill from take home asbestos exposure.

Plaintiffs William and Catherine M. of Washington state claim William received his mesothelioma diagnosis in October 2018.

William’s father John allegedly worked at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard from 1941 to 1943. John also purportedly worked at Seattle area shipyards, including Todd Shipyard, Puget Sound Bridge and Dredge, and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, from 1943 to approximately 1953.

When a family member works in an environment where asbestos-containing materials are used, that family member can inadvertently bring home asbestos dust on clothing, gloves, jackets, lunch boxes and another object present at the job site. When anyone in the household does laundry, the dust is most likely shaken from the clothing in the house before being placed in the washing machine. As a result, family members may breathe in the asbestos particles or even swallow them, which means they are at risk of take home asbestos exposure.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of an internal organ. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma, which attacks the lining of the lungs. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no cure for mesothelioma cancer, which is a very aggressive type of cancer. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma can include chest pain directly under the rib cage, painful cough, shortness of breath, lumps under the skin on the chest and weight loss.

Direct and Take Home Asbestos Exposure

William also claims he was exposed to asbestos directly in a variety of ways. He says he was a supply clerk in the U.S. Army in 1957 and in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1958 through 1965. He also worked in engineering, drafting and purchasing for several years.

According to the asbestos lawsuit, William suffered direct asbestos exposure when he changed brakes on his personal vehicles and on those of family and friends. He also mixed and installed joint compounds that he used at his personal residences. These materials purportedly contained asbestos.

William alleges the combination of take home asbestos exposure and direct asbestos exposure led to his mesothelioma diagnosis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most cases of mesothelioma cancers occur as a result of exposure to asbestos 20 to 71 years prior. A person diagnosed with mesothelioma has a median survival rate of about one year. Shipbuilding and construction are the top two occupations most at risk for asbestos exposure.

William alleges his mesothelioma from take home asbestos exposure and direct asbestos exposure has led to continuous pain, suffering, and disability. He also says he has incurred medical expenses and suffered economic losses. His wife alleges she has suffered from a loss of consortium as a result of William’s illness.

The Take Home Asbestos Exposure Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-01876 in the Superior Court of Washington for King County.